MBD? Sick?

Rovvan

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Nov 13, 2017
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For perhaps around 5 years my family has had this this Russian Tortoise, my father buying me him as gift when I was younger.

He was improperly cared for, for years he hasn't had proper lighting, diet or heating.

I'm 14 now, and only recently starting looking into his care realizing how terribly my family was caring for him. I'm trying to stress this to my family, but they don't wish to be educated. They are however allowing me to take him into my care, and I have a large list of essentials I am going to buy for him. Including a proper UVB light.

Fortunately

- He seems to be very active

- He is alert and mobile

- Eats well, although has trouble opening his mouth due to beak over-growth

However I am concerned with

- His legs appear weak

- Beak over-growth

- Shell and skin are dry

- Any internal issues he may have

- Possible calcium deficiency

- Weak back legs

- Possible MBD

Somebody suggested buying him a liquid vitamin and calcium to add to his diet, once a week to help aid with health until I can find a possible vet. Will this help any?

20171113_130038.jpg 20171113_130013.jpg 20171113_125952.jpg 20171113_130027.jpg
 

Yvonne G

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Russian tortoises are very forgiving of poor care. Now that you've taken on his care, things are only going to get better. REad the care sheet pinned at the top of the Russian section and make changes to his habitat and diet according to the care sheet. His beak could stand to be trimmed a bit. You'll need to feed calcium-rich foods and sprinkle a tiny pinch of calcium powder over the food three times a week. But the calcium just goes right through the tortoise unless you also provide UVB. I like to use this light for heat and UVB all in one fixture (100 watt is just fine):

160-watt.jpg
 

Rovvan

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Russian tortoises are very forgiving of poor care. Now that you've taken on his care, things are only going to get better. REad the care sheet pinned at the top of the Russian section and make changes to his habitat and diet according to the care sheet. His beak could stand to be trimmed a bit. You'll need to feed calcium-rich foods and sprinkle a tiny pinch of calcium powder over the food three times a week. But the calcium just goes right through the tortoise unless you also provide UVB. I like to use this light for heat and UVB all in one fixture (100 watt is just fine):

160-watt.jpg


Hi there!

I recently got back from the petstore, I was short on cash so unfortunately the power-sun wasn't an option, but hopefully in the future it may be! So, I picked him up a Desert UVB (It was the only UVB that was available cost-wise), Fluker's vitamin and repti-cal by zoomed, will that work out for now? :)
 

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TammyJ

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Hi and welcome. I am sure your tortoise will get the very best of advice and help on this site!
All the best with his progress!
 

TechnoCheese

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Hi there!

I recently got back from the petstore, I was short on cash so unfortunately the power-sun wasn't an option, but hopefully in the future it may be! So, I picked him up a Desert UVB (It was the only UVB that was available cost-wise), Fluker's vitamin and repti-cal by zoomed, will that work out for now? :)

Sadly, those coil/compact bulbs are no good, and they very often cause eye issues. Would your climate happen to be warm enough so that you could take him outside a few times a week to get sunlight, just as a temporary fix?
 

Rovvan

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Sadly, those coil/compact bulbs are no good, and they very often cause eye issues. Would your climate happen to be warm enough so that you could take him outside a few times a week to get sunlight, just as a temporary fix?


Unfortunately not :( Canadian weather in November is obviously quite too cold for him. Will the coil do until I could buy something higher end?
 

TechnoCheese

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Unfortunately not :( Canadian weather in November is obviously quite too cold fod him. Will the coil do until I could buy something higher end?

Darn. I guess it might be good for just a while, but if he seems to stop opening his eyes, or just doesn't look right, be ready to turn it off.
 

crimson_lotus

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You could always get a uvb tube light and have a ceramic heat emitter on the side.

I live in a cold climate and I keep the heat emitters on all day during the winter. Her actual light doesn't come on until morning and it's shut off in the evening.

Try buying a cuttlebone - my tort loves to chew on them, they're a great source of calcium, and they may help a bit with the beak.
 

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