Tortoise clicking while he eats

Mcopen

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Hi I have a red foot tortoise, and recently he has started clicking while he is eating. It looks like his bottom jaw is coming out further than his top jaw and catching on the tip of his beak. Is this a serious problem or is it something that will resolve itself? Thank you!
 

KarenSoCal

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Hi, and welcome to the forum!

Could you post a picture of your tort looking straight on at the camera? It could be that his beak needs trimmed, but we need to see it.
 

Mcopen

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Hi, and welcome to the forum!

Could you post a picture of your tort looking straight on at the camera? It could be that his beak needs trimmed, but we need to see it.
 

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Mcopen

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I’m hoping that is just what it is! I am going to go pick up some cuttlebone and slate today
 

KarenSoCal

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I’m hoping that is just what it is! I am going to go pick up some cuttlebone and slate today

It doesn't look terribly long, but it could still have a small spot on it that needs trimmed. Let's ask a member that's really good on this stuff.
@Yvonne G

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Yossarian

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Any chance you could post a short video of it happening?
 

Jchri457

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My Redfoot, Franny, is having the same exact thing happen. She has clicked her beak before and I just thought it was her being a tortoise, making fun noises. Now it is almost every time she eats. Her beak doesn’t seem too over grown. I read it could be a calcium deficiency. I mainly feed mixed greens, romaine and kale, with fruit occasionally, and protein rarely.
 

zovick

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My Redfoot, Franny, is having the same exact thing happen. She has clicked her beak before and I just thought it was her being a tortoise, making fun noises. Now it is almost every time she eats. Her beak doesn’t seem too over grown. I read it could be a calcium deficiency. I mainly feed mixed greens, romaine and kale, with fruit occasionally, and protein rarely.
The front portion of the upper beak is a bit too long and is catching on the lower beak when the tortoise bites, and making that clicking noise when it pops free again. This is most pronounced when the tortoise attempts to bite off something thin, such as a radicchio or lettuce leaf. If you trim off about 1/16" to 1/8"of the front part of that upper beak, you will solve the problem.

If you don't trim it, it may eventually wear down by itself, but that will take a long time.

You should be able to trim it with a nail clipper.
 
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mac31

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My Russian Tortoise recently had his beak trimmed at the vet. But it's still too long and he's having this clicking problem still, the under beak catching on the top beak every time he eats 😞

I might be able to trim it some more by myself. Have you guys trimmed yours and how'd it go?
 

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