I’m concerned about my Russian tortoise

[Yvonne G]

I think we all interpreted your words incorrectly. From reading your last post i'm leaning towards a respiratory infection. It sounds like what we interpreted to be a 'hiss', or air being forced out when he jerks his legs and head in quickly, is really wheezing from congestion. Reason I think this is because they don't sit there and hiss for no reason. Some pet stores have some sort of policy where you can bring a sick tortoise back and have their vet treat it. It might be a good idea to do that.

 

[Tortoisebaby]

My tort is a Russian tortoise; the temps on the cool end are in the 70’s then the other end is in the 80-86 degrees Fahrenheit range and the basking spot is in the 86 degrees because my lamp fixture is probably too big and the enclosure is not that huge. But I finnaly figured out that my tortoise is actually sick. He has green diarrhea.

 

[Bee62]

I’m a very impatient person and my tortoise has gone too long without eating. I have tried everything. I bathed him. I left him a lone. I pet his shell. He sleeps all day and won’t eat. I expected him to eat, drink water out of his bowl, and climb on top of things and stuff, but he does absolutely nothing. He is frustrating me so bad. I don’t even want him anymore. I don’t like him.

Please try to learn patience from your tort. This animal is completely in your hand, depends on you and needs you.
Don`t think and say you don`t like him anymore. Maybe he is sick and needs now your help, or he will die. Do you got him from a reptile shop ? Please go there and ask for help. Tell the people there that your tort is inactive and maybe sick. Please do it.

 

[Tortoisebaby]

I’m gonna take him to the vet because he has green diarrhea

 

[Bee62]

I’m gonna take him to the vet because he has green diarrhea

Please keep us updated what the VET said. My fingers are crossed that your tort is not so bad sick.
A healthy active tort is a funny and interesting animal to watch and to keep. I hope that your tort is getting well soon that you have fun with him too. Don`t give up and don`t be unpatient. Torts are slow but lovely ! Good luck.

 

[Destben]

My tort had green diarrhea but my vet said it was the diet change. It solidified to normal after a couple months my tort just had to get use to eating the good stuff

 

[Tortoisebaby]

My Russian tortoise is about five or four inches long,male. The cool side of his enclosure is humid about 70% and it’s in the 70’s degrees Fahrenheit over there and dark. The other side of his enclosure is bright and in the 80’s including in the basking spot. My tortoise pooped green stuff outside of his bath and regularly makes a hissing noise when he wakes up by stretching his neck out and then hissing. He sleeps all day and never is interested in food(I layed out a very small piece of apple to see if he would eat that, I layed a spring mix making sure I didn’t give him spinach,yet he refused it). I’ve had him for three days and got him from a pet store. I think he has a respiratory tract infection and worms. I’m taking him to the vet Tuesday.

Questions: should I have a hotter basking spot(it’s in the 80’s degree Fahrenheit)?
Should I leave his bright light(it’s a zoo med powersun) with heat on all day since he is sick?
Why would a tortoise with a pneumonia feel comfortable in a dark, cool, humid area(won’t that make him sicker)? Should I keep him out of the humid area and put him under the basking light to sleep so his sickness doesn’t get worse?

 

[Tortoisebaby]

It can’t be a diet change that caused my torts diarrhea because he won’t eat anything I give him(I’ve given him a spring mix without spinach and just to be curious a small piece of an apple)

 

[Destben]

It can’t be a diet change that caused my torts diarrhea because he won’t eat anything I give him(I’ve given him a spring mix without spinach and just to be curious a small piece of an apple)

Make sure you increase the temps like you were told in a previous comment if your baby is sick he needs heat to get over it.

 

[mark1]

Questions: should I have a hotter basking spot(it’s in the 80’s degree Fahrenheit)?

if he has a cool 78- 80 degree spot , a place he can get his temp up in the 90's I believe is a good idea , there will be a temp gradient between the two spots ......

Should I leave his bright light(it’s a zoo med powersun) with heat on all day since he is sick?

I would leave it on all day whether he's sick or not , light spectrum is important to any animal , including people , more so to a tortoise .........

Why would a tortoise with a pneumonia feel comfortable in a dark, cool, humid area(won’t that make him sicker)? Should I keep him out of the humid area and put him under the basking light to sleep so his sickness doesn’t get worse?

yes it will make them get worse , the hot spot is probably too hot to stay at , which most basking areas are , so he's probably just finding the most out of the way remote spot he can , and it may be too cool but as they get worse they'll be more likely not to move .... my opinion is , with hatchlings , sick turtles and not acclimated animals you don't want to give them the opportunity to pick suboptimal spots , I do that by not having any ........ you also need to make sure not to keep them overheated , that will get them worse also , and can kill them in itself ......... your tortoise is most likely wild caught , it's a rough thing to do to a wild animal , takes some skill and luck to get them going , and as your doing a vet doesn't hurt , at minimum a willing intelligent exotic vet .......

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[Yvonne G]

My Russian tortoise is about five or four inches long,male. The cool side of his enclosure is humid about 70% and it’s in the 70’s degrees Fahrenheit over there and dark. The other side of his enclosure is bright and in the 80’s including in the basking spot. My tortoise pooped green stuff outside of his bath and regularly makes a hissing noise when he wakes up by stretching his neck out and then hissing. He sleeps all day and never is interested in food(I layed out a very small piece of apple to see if he would eat that, I layed a spring mix making sure I didn’t give him spinach,yet he refused it). I’ve had him for three days and got him from a pet store. I think he has a respiratory tract infection and worms. I’m taking him to the vet Tuesday.

Questions: should I have a hotter basking spot(it’s in the 80’s degree Fahrenheit)?

Normally, for an adult russian tortoise, the spot directly under the light is 100F, fading to about 80F on one end and room temperature or 70-75F on the other end. This is one reason why you need a large enclosure. It's hard to get that gradient in a small enclosure.

Should I leave his bright light(it’s a zoo med powersun) with heat on all day since he is sick?

I leave my UVB light on all day whether they're sick or not. But off at night

Why would a tortoise with a pneumonia feel comfortable in a dark, cool, humid area(won’t that make him sicker)? Should I keep him out of the humid area and put him under the basking light to sleep so his sickness doesn’t get worse?

A sick tortoise finds a safe and secure hiding place in order to stay out of sight of any predators. Also, just a note on humidity - your full grown Russian tortoise doesn't need the humidity we talk about on here. That's mainly for babies or other species of tortoise. When I'm treating a sick tortoise I keep his enclosure 80-85F all over the whole enclosure, day and night. The temperatures I listed above were for a normal, healthy russian tortoise.

 

[crimson_lotus]

Perhaps tortoises are not your kind of pet. You can still return him/her and I think it may be best for both of you in the long run.

Sorry for being a pessimist, but it sounds like you and possibly your daughter needs an animal that gives affection back.

 

[Tortoisebaby]

My Russian tortoise is sick and I told the pet store I got him from that, and they examined him saying that he is actually very healthy. My tortoise has vomited today and again doodooed green and orange stuff. He took a nibble of a yellow bell pepper and strawberry but I don’t think he ate it. He always opens his mouth like he’s tryna hack something up. I’ve had him for six days. White stuff like bird poop comes out of him too yet he hasn’t eaten anything from me. I don’t want to pay vet bills when the pet store is lying saying he isn’t sick. Honestly, I’ve never seen a live healthy tortoise at that pet store;however, it is winter over here so that could be why they are looking and acting so lethargic.I don’t think I’m cut out for taking care of a sick tortoise, but I’m stuck with him now, Im seriously not allowed to give him away. He is always sleeping or just sitting around.

Background: his substrate is cypress mulch(maybe he ate some), his temperatures are 70-91 degrees Fahrenheit. He has a powersun(uvb and uva light). His humidity is 50%.

I will submit a video of his behavior soon!

 

[Tortoisebaby]

That is the link to a video of him doing this strange behavior.

 

[Big Charlie]

I don't see any strange behavior. White poop is called urates and is normal.

 

[Tortoisebaby]

Ignore the first video: videos number 2 and 3 are better to show his behavior

And

 

[Tortoisebaby]

The second and third video show strange behavior(watch him close one eye and then close the other and then open one eye and then the other)(his mouth is opened and he cranes his head to hiss while no one is near him)

 

[Tortoisebaby]

 

[wellington]

Hard to say. Is he eating drinking and otherwise acting normal? Can you see anything in his throat?
His enclosure is way too small for him. He needs a minimum of a 4x8 foot unless he's a lot younger/smaller then he looks. That enclosure is good for a hatchling but not an adult.

 

[Tortoisebaby]

He is not eating but he drinks if I put him in a soak