Is my star healthy ?

rolley

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2017
Messages
65
I found a star tortoise a month ago since then he is my pet..
According to experts in the forum he is approx 6 years old
His dimensions are 16×10 cm
His weight is 650 grams
I wanna know is he health or not ?
His weight is according to his size or not ?
 

Attachments

  • 1501900281655.jpg
    1501900281655.jpg
    59.8 KB · Views: 47
  • 1501900298594.jpg
    1501900298594.jpg
    113.5 KB · Views: 47

Neal

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Apr 15, 2010
Messages
4,967
Location (City and/or State)
Arizona
6 years old is a good guess, I was initially thinking less than 10 considering the vivid colors on his shell. At that size, he is nearly full grown.

650 grams is good for a male that size, a little light but just slightly. His arms are nice and beefy, his head and eyes look really good, tongue is a good color and nostrils are clear. So he looks to have all the outward signs of good health. Internally could be a different story.

I don't know what to think about keeping a wild tortoise though. Do you know much about the wild population numbers in your area?
 

rolley

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2017
Messages
65
I don't know about the wild population..I found him 30 miles away from where I live
 

Markw84

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
5,041
Location (City and/or State)
Sacramento, CA (Central Valley)
I agree with Neal on all counts. Your tortoise looks very healthy. A beautiful example of a star! But we can only go by the picture. You need to monitor the way he acts to see he soon starts becoming active, and continues to eat well. A wild caught tortoise will most probably have some parasites. In the wild, these are kept at normal levels and not a problem, but in captivity, in a confined space, the load of parasites can grow quickly and become a problem. Monitor your tortoise's weight and be sure it does not start loosing weight. If you have access to a vet who can do a fecal exam, that would normally be a good idea when dealing with a wild caught tortoise.

Your tortoise is a bit light, for what we shoot for in captivity, but that is often the case with wild caught. I look for my stars to be between 700-730g at 16cm. A male will often be more in the lower range, and a female on the higher side.
 

rolley

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2017
Messages
65
Thanks a lot mark...fecal exam is not possible here because there is no vet for tortoises here ..
 

Dan

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 20, 2013
Messages
139
Location (City and/or State)
Indiana
Thanks a lot mark...fecal exam is not possible here because there is no vet for tortoises here ..

You could do your own with a microscope, sugar water float solution, and a source text like Understanding Reptile Parasites (Klingenberg). Treatment is outlined in the same.
 

New Posts

Top