Yellow fungus in baby sulcata

Prenchpries

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Hi all,

It's been a tough week since Ube started acting sick. We went to a different vet today to get a better diagnosis, thanks to the reco of a family friend who's owned torts for a long time. Sadly, the vet’s diagnosis is yellow fungus, which could’ve come from many sources. I reckon it was his substrate, either in his indoor or outdoor enclosure, though it was never wet wet. They said it probably hit him harder because his immune system was already weak... The prognosis is guarded, because not a lot of babies make it. He has no symptoms of RI yet but he could soon develop this because of his compromised immune system.

Symptoms Ube is experiencing:
- Lack of appetite (his last actual bite that I've seen was last Thursday)
- Lethargy (he doesn't walk around at all)
- Irregular poop & pee (no poop since Thursday; only saw 1 very small urate today)
- Flaking skin with yellow spots and splotches on hind legs and neck area (the fungus)

Suggested treatment:
- For fungus: Betadine and then Canesten Cream on affected areas 1x a day for 2 months. They also injected him today with antibiotics, we have another appointment scheduled for Wednesday. Before we went to the vet today, I only noticed his hind legs, and was topically applying Laurin MCT Coconut Oil on them (it has anti-fungal properties). I didn't see it under his neck... so the affected area in his hind legs seems to have dried out, while his neck has not. I will continue the MCT oil treatment 1x a day and include his neck area too. This helped loads for one of our ball pythons who had red bumps on her whole body.
- For possible onset of RI: Morning soak in warm water, with fresh or dry oregano to help him breathe. 5-10 minute nebulizer once a day using 1/2 Liter PNSS (0.9% sodium chloride solution for IV fluid) for 7-10 days.
- For overall immunity boosting: Afternoon soak in Pedialyte (locally manufactured electrolyte drink for children) for 7-10 days. Torts can apparently soak up some nutrients via their butts, so hopefully this helps.
- For lack of appetite: Extract of blended veggies (1-2 droppers a day, throughout the day); Yakult (probiotic drink, 1 drop a day only — not dropper). For now, they recommended against carrot soaks since he's too small, as well as tempting him with red fruits (e.g. watermelon) since he might get diarrhea. They taught me a simpler way to feed without forcing/prying his mouth open... you hold the tortoise so it's "standing up" and it's mouth naturally opens a bit; you can line one side of his mouth with the liquid food and let it absorb, then do it on the other side.
- For dehydration: Pet Reboost syrup (1 dropper a day, throughout the day) for 2 weeks.


Other things:
- They recommended using plain paper towels as substrate for now, just to be super clean about it.
- 60% humidity level for now, since fungi thrive in high humidity.
- Maintain steady temps throughout enclosure (33-35C), no need for CHE at this time. Summer is scorching here.
- Outdoor basks from 6-8AM.


We'll be monitoring very closely and visiting the vet as needed. Really really trying to keep him alive and okay. I'm devastated and guilty for doing this to him, but am determined to make him better with as little stress as possible...

If anyone here has ever experienced anything similar, it would be nice to hear from you.
 

Yvonne G

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I've seen a couple other threads where the tortoise had yellow splotches on his skin and none of us could hep as we'd never seen that before. Please put up a picture for us so we can further educate ourselves. I've not ever heard of yellow fungus.
 

Kim&Tim

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Joined
May 14, 2020
Messages
190
Location (City and/or State)
The Netherlands
Hi all,

It's been a tough week since Ube started acting sick. We went to a different vet today to get a better diagnosis, thanks to the reco of a family friend who's owned torts for a long time. Sadly, the vet’s diagnosis is yellow fungus, which could’ve come from many sources. I reckon it was his substrate, either in his indoor or outdoor enclosure, though it was never wet wet. They said it probably hit him harder because his immune system was already weak... The prognosis is guarded, because not a lot of babies make it. He has no symptoms of RI yet but he could soon develop this because of his compromised immune system.

Symptoms Ube is experiencing:
- Lack of appetite (his last actual bite that I've seen was last Thursday)
- Lethargy (he doesn't walk around at all)
- Irregular poop & pee (no poop since Thursday; only saw 1 very small urate today)
- Flaking skin with yellow spots and splotches on hind legs and neck area (the fungus)

Suggested treatment:
- For fungus: Betadine and then Canesten Cream on affected areas 1x a day for 2 months. They also injected him today with antibiotics, we have another appointment scheduled for Wednesday. Before we went to the vet today, I only noticed his hind legs, and was topically applying Laurin MCT Coconut Oil on them (it has anti-fungal properties). I didn't see it under his neck... so the affected area in his hind legs seems to have dried out, while his neck has not. I will continue the MCT oil treatment 1x a day and include his neck area too. This helped loads for one of our ball pythons who had red bumps on her whole body.
- For possible onset of RI: Morning soak in warm water, with fresh or dry oregano to help him breathe. 5-10 minute nebulizer once a day using 1/2 Liter PNSS (0.9% sodium chloride solution for IV fluid) for 7-10 days.
- For overall immunity boosting: Afternoon soak in Pedialyte (locally manufactured electrolyte drink for children) for 7-10 days. Torts can apparently soak up some nutrients via their butts, so hopefully this helps.
- For lack of appetite: Extract of blended veggies (1-2 droppers a day, throughout the day); Yakult (probiotic drink, 1 drop a day only — not dropper). For now, they recommended against carrot soaks since he's too small, as well as tempting him with red fruits (e.g. watermelon) since he might get diarrhea. They taught me a simpler way to feed without forcing/prying his mouth open... you hold the tortoise so it's "standing up" and it's mouth naturally opens a bit; you can line one side of his mouth with the liquid food and let it absorb, then do it on the other side.
- For dehydration: Pet Reboost syrup (1 dropper a day, throughout the day) for 2 weeks.


Other things:
- They recommended using plain paper towels as substrate for now, just to be super clean about it.
- 60% humidity level for now, since fungi thrive in high humidity.
- Maintain steady temps throughout enclosure (33-35C), no need for CHE at this time. Summer is scorching here.
- Outdoor basks from 6-8AM.


We'll be monitoring very closely and visiting the vet as needed. Really really trying to keep him alive and okay. I'm devastated and guilty for doing this to him, but am determined to make him better with as little stress as possible...

If anyone here has ever experienced anything similar, it would be nice to hear from you.
Yes, very curious too.
Also I hope he gets well soon and good luck!!
 

Prenchpries

Member
Joined
May 30, 2020
Messages
36
Location (City and/or State)
Metro Manila, Philippines
Hi guys. Here are some photos of his spots.

There's a big spot inside, under the shell and beyond his neck.
Image from iOS (4).jpg


Here are his neck spots.
Image from iOS (3).jpg


These dots are visible on his legs, but mostly on the neck area. I feel the MCT oil was able to stop it from spreading further on his legs, and hopefully, we'll see improvements on his neck area soon too...


Sharing photos of the things we use to treat him.

Canesten anti-fungal cream, PNSS 0.9% NaCl solution for nebulizing, Pedialyte for extra nutrients (afternoon soak), Pet Reboost for extra nutrients (fed by dropper, as seen in the photo after this).
Image from iOS (1).jpg

Vet gave me these droppers so I could feed him. They're a godsend. The green stuff is the veggie extract we prepared. Throughout the day, I give 1 dropper of Pet Reboost and 1-2 droppers of the veggie extract. Then 1 drop of Yakult. (Also, 1 dropper = 1 whole tube; 1 drop = literally 1 drop).
Image from iOS.jpg


This is how I feed him. Once he opens his mouth when I hold him in a "standing" position, I drop the liquid & line one side of his beak. Then I turn him on his side and wait for it to absorb slowly. It takes patience, but you can see him swallowing.
Image from iOS (2).jpg




For the first time since Thursday, Ube actually moved from the spot where I left him. He went inside his hide, guys. I'm not sure if it's a good sign, but I guess he actually has enough energy to move now? I don't want to keep my hopes up just yet, but small baby steps...
 

Yvonne G

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Thank you. This is very helpfu!.
 

Prenchpries

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Messages
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Thank you. This is very helpfu!.

You’re welcome.

Here are more photos.

Top view. No fungus on his shell or plastron just yet. And it might be because we lathered a thin layer of the MCT oil on him too...
439149C8-8D79-4A33-B009-80C8BC51F2CD.jpeg

This is his super basic hospital bed. I replace the tissue substrate daily, and there should be tissue under his hide. As recommended by vet, I’m maintaining only around 60% humidity to arrest fungal growth, and steady temp of 33-35C all day & night. He doesn’t touch his food & water but I leave some anyway.
3697376A-CB1D-4E1B-AC7C-3E2F1063830E.jpeg
 

newCH

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Sorry. Dont feel guilty, you took him to the vet and did your best to fix him up. Little ones are fragile. ((hugs)) ???
 

Yvonne G

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Aw geez, that's too bad. It's so hard when you try your best and then lose them anyway. But thank you for sharing this with us.
 

cansuncer

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Unfortunately he passed away. It's been pretty traumatizing to say the least.
Oh. ? I’m so sorry to hear.... I know it’s easy to get attached to these little guys - they’re so sweet and cute. I have two hatchlings and they both have the same yellow bumps in your photo. I have a vet appt for both of them this Monday. Any word of advice? One vet already said ant bites and we didn’t think it was a correct diagnostic so going for a second opinion. I also have kids at home so I’m hoping it doesn’t effect their immunity if it’s something serious with the torts.
 

Skybum

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I've seen a couple other threads where the tortoise had yellow splotches on his skin and none of us could hep as we'd never seen that before. Please put up a picture for us so we can further educate ourselves. I've not ever heard of yellow fungus.
 

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Tom

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Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner. More insight:
Years ago I got some babies from a breeder that had cryptosporidium in his colony. I had lesions just like those on the babies from him, and from my own babies that had contact with his. The lesions are a secondary bacterial infection associated with the primary crypto infection. Not fungus. I can't remember the name of the bacteria, but it was something unusual and seldom seen. Treatment didn't work because #1. Its not fungus, and #2. The yellow lesions are a secondary infection, and there is no cure for crypto. No treatment for it either.

There is no treatment for crypto if this is what you have. Diagnosis is difficult, and sometimes only possible with full necropsy which costs $500+. Crytpo frequently doesn't kill them, but prevents them from thriving, and it is highly contagious. Isolation and euthanasia would be recommended to protect all other tortoises from infection.
 

Skybum

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I’m assuming this is what you guys are talking about. Was one small spot on back of leg. 2 days later then this. Looks like yellow pus
Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner. More insight:
Years ago I got some babies from a breeder that had cryptosporidium in his colony. I had lesions just like those on the babies from him, and from my own babies that had contact with his. The lesions are a secondary bacterial infection associated with the primary crypto infection. Not fungus. I can't remember the name of the bacteria, but it was something unusual and seldom seen. Treatment didn't work because #1. Its not fungus, and #2. The yellow lesions are a secondary infection, and there is no cure for crypto. No treatment for it either.

There is no treatment for crypto if this is what you have. Diagnosis is difficult, and sometimes only possible with full necropsy which costs $500+. Crytpo frequently doesn't kill them, but prevents them from thriving, and it is highly contagious. Isolation and euthanasia would be recommended to protect all other tortoises from infection.
This is a bummer to hear. I’m sure the rest of there colony is infected as well.
 

Pastel Tortie

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I’m assuming this is what you guys are talking about. Was one small spot on back of leg. 2 days later then this. Looks like yellow pus

This is a bummer to hear. I’m sure the rest of there colony is infected as well.
@Skybum Can you give us an update? How is your little one?
I apologize if I've missed an update elsewhere. I'm trying to wrangle what we know into a summary thread to post in the near future, as this issue seems to be showing up more and more these days, not less.
 
Last edited:

Pastel Tortie

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Oh. ? I’m so sorry to hear.... I know it’s easy to get attached to these little guys - they’re so sweet and cute. I have two hatchlings and they both have the same yellow bumps in your photo. I have a vet appt for both of them this Monday. Any word of advice? One vet already said ant bites and we didn’t think it was a correct diagnostic so going for a second opinion. I also have kids at home so I’m hoping it doesn’t effect their immunity if it’s something serious with the torts.
@cansuncer Can you give us an update? How are your hatchlings?
I apologize if I've missed an update in another thread someplace... There are quite a few threads about yellow bumps in baby sulcatas.
 
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