Why does my tortoise sneeze when eating

[AlexL]

Does anyone know why this would happen. My tortoise eats well and is very active.

 

[dmmj]

what is the frequency? Every time, once in awhile, once in a blue moon

 

[dmmj]

and what is the diet like?

 

[AlexL]

It happens a couple of times a day when he is eating so quite often. And I feed things such as colli leaves, red pepper, cucumberc carrot, spring greens, water cress, courgette and the odd bit of strawberry but that only once a month

 

[MPRC]

Mine sneeze when they get food in their nostrils. Could this be your issue?

 

[AlexL]

Do they do it on a regular basis

 

[TheSulcata]

What type of tort do you have?

 

[AlexL]

Horsefield

 

[MPRC]

Do they do it on a regular basis

Any time they eat something sticky. They can't figure out how to use a napkin to wipe their faces so they snort it out.

Maybe you could get a video?

 

[AlexL]

Yeah I could get a video tomorrow for you

 

[AlexL]

It won't let me upload the video

 

[AlexL]

When he is eating he will stop to rub his nose a few times and then he sneezes

 

[JoesMum]

It sounds like he's getting food over his nostrils.

Tortoises can smear most foods over their faces - even lettuce (old photo of Joe)


Keep an eye on him, but if he's otherwise eating and behaving normally then I wouldn't worry

 

[AlexL]

Thank you and yeah like I said he is active and eats as normal

 

[Lyn W]

What sort of substrate do you have? Just wondering if's getting in the food and making him sneeze.

 

[AlexL]

I'm using calcium sand. I know it doesn't have a great reputation but it seems to work great for him

 

[JoesMum]

I'm using calcium sand. I know it doesn't have a great reputation but it seems to work great for him

Except he's sneezing! That substrate rather changes things.

1. You shouldn't have a substrate that your tortoise might feel tempted to eat
2. Sand sticks to food and impacts in the gut and causes all sorts of problems
3. Sand is very dry and doesn't allow the humidity levels to be raised appropriately.

Change your substrate to something that holds moisture like coco coir or orchid bark.

 

[AlexL]

Okay thank you, I'm am going to look at buying my self either coco coir or orchid bark

 

[Gillian M]

It sounds like he's getting food over his nostrils.

Tortoises can smear most foods over their faces - even lettuce (old photo of Joe)
View attachment 190716

Keep an eye on him, but if he's otherwise eating and behaving normally then I wouldn't worry

Oh, that Joe is so sweet. GOD bless.

 

[Gillian M]

A very warm welcome to the forum!

Please post pics of your tort and his enclosure, and read the "Beginners Mistakes" Thread as well as the are sheet.