Julie

Juliespud40

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Hiya this is my first time chat, I had a 2 yr old horse field tortoise that u gave to my Neice , I currently have his mam and dad still, I visited him today and noticed his under beak is curling very near his top beak , what should I suggest to my Neice as iv not seen that before thanks
 

zovick

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Hiya this is my first time chat, I had a 2 yr old horse field tortoise that u gave to my Neice , I currently have his mam and dad still, I visited him today and noticed his under beak is curling very near his top beak , what should I suggest to my Neice as iv not seen that before thanks
The tortoise should be taken to a good vet for a beak trimming.
 

Lyn W

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Hi Julie and welcome.
A picture would help you get the best responses but my guess is that a visit to the vet is needed ( a tort specialist) so that it be trimmed. It is probably quite painful and difficult for the tort to eat so the sooner that is done the better. Then make sure he is fed on a slate or on something similar that will help keep his beak filed down in the future.

This is the most up to date caresheet for Russians (horsefields) you'll find anywhere. Most tort problems are because of things we do or don't do, so if you follow that for all your torts you'll be able to correct any mistakes and they'll stay happy and healthy.


If you want to make sure your own torts are doing well then please post some pics of them and their enclosures and you'll get great feedback and advice.
 

Juliespud40

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Hi Julie and welcome.
A picture would help you get the best responses but my guess is that a visit to the vet is needed ( a tort specialist) so that it be trimmed. It is probably quite painful and difficult for the tort to eat so the sooner that is done the better. Then make sure he is fed on a slate or on something similar that will help keep his beak filed down in the future.

This is the most up to date caresheet for Russians (horsefields) you'll find anywhere. Most tort problems are because of things we do or don't do, so if you follow that for all your torts you'll be able to correct any mistakes and they'll stay happy and healthy.


If you want to make sure your own torts are doing well then please post some pics of them and their enclosures and you'll get great feedback and advice.
Thank you very much , I did take a photo of him but don’t no how to send it , plus he is only being fed on them red and green pellets, when I had him he ate everything, they now say he don’t eat them but that’s probs because the poor thing can’t, my next step is take him back I think
 

wellington

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Unfortunately the tort is not being cared for properly if only eating what you said and the beak so over grown its curling.
I suggest asking her if she is really interested in keeping him or not. Then let her know she has to do it right or you take him back. Tell her to join this forum and learn the proper care or she loses him.
 

Lyn W

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Thank you very much , I did take a photo of him but don’t no how to send it , plus he is only being fed on them red and green pellets, when I had him he ate everything, they now say he don’t eat them but that’s probs because the poor thing can’t, my next step is take him back I think
Pellets are convenient to feed and OK occasionally but they shouldn't be the only food. He should be on leafy greens and there's plenty of free weeds about now. www.thetortoisetable.org.uk is a good guide.

I don't know if your own torts are housed separately or if you are aware of this already, but torts are solitary and territorial creatures so it is very stressful for them to share small spaces even with one other tort of a different gender. When one becomes dominant by staring, following, nudging, mounting (often mistake for affection) and later barging and biting etc., it can result in illness, injury and even death. So if you do take your niece's tort back hopefully you'll keep his enclosure too.
 

Juliespud40

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Hi and welcome. Did you tell her your concerns?
Oh yes soon as I saw him I said that’s not right, I said he needs to see a vet, , as to be honest I didn’t know you could trim beaks
Unfortunately the tort is not being cared for properly if only eating what you said and the beak so over grown its curling.
I suggest asking her if she is really interested in keeping him or not. Then let her know she has to do it right or you take him back. Tell her to join this forum and learn the proper care or she loses him.
to be honest I don’t think she’s interested anymore as she now has a patterdale terrier which if iif sss
Pellets are convenient to feed and OK occasionally but they shouldn't be the only food. He should be on leafy greens and there's plenty of free weeds about now. www.thetortoisetable.org.uk is a good guide.

I don't know if your own torts are housed separately or if you are aware of this already, but torts are solitary and territorial creatures so it is very stressful for them to share small spaces even with one other tort of a different gender. When one becomes dominant by staring, following, nudging, mounting (often mistake for affection) and later barging and biting etc., it can result in illness, injury and even death. So if you do take your niece's tort back hopefully you'll keep his enclosure too.
thanks I was given a male and female about 6yrs ago as didn’t want them getting in the wrong hands plus I’m a softie will any animals , there owner said they must stay together which I did but changed there diet straight away as they lived off carrot, broccoli lettuce I think, and there pen was full of sawdust which I changed straight away, I came home one day to watch my girl having 3 eggs, the male was removed and has never been back since they have there own houses, I didn’t no what to do with the eggs so went to a reptile shop and told me to put them in the bin, no way I could do that so I went on line and got ideas , I put the 3 eggs carefully on substrate , put a little bowl of water in also and kept the heat on for 12 hrs a day , I didn’t think for one moment I’d get a baby tort but I got 2 , boy and girl the 3rd egg was empty so thus is why now my torts have been separated since no more eggs in my house lol
 

Juliespud40

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Oh yes soon as I saw him I said that’s not right, I said he needs to see a vet, , as to be honest I didn’t know you could trim beaks

to be honest I don’t think she’s interested anymore as she now has a patterdale terrier which if iif sss

thanks I was given a male and female about 6yrs ago as didn’t want them getting in the wrong hands plus I’m a softie will any animals , there owner said they must stay together which I did but changed there diet straight away as they lived off carrot, broccoli lettuce I think, and there pen was full of sawdust which I changed straight away, I came home one day to watch my girl having 3 eggs, the male was removed and has never been back since they have there own houses, I didn’t no what to do with the eggs so went to a reptile shop and told me to put them in the bin, no way I could do that so I went on line and got ideas , I put the 3 eggs carefully on substrate , put a little bowl of water in also and kept the heat on for 12 hrs a day , I didn’t think for one moment I’d get a baby tort but I got 2 , boy and girl the 3rd egg was empty so thus is why now my torts have been separated since no more eggs in my house lol
 

wellington

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Oh yes soon as I saw him I said that’s not right, I said he needs to see a vet, , as to be honest I didn’t know you could trim beaks

to be honest I don’t think she’s interested anymore as she now has a patterdale terrier which if iif sss

thanks I was given a male and female about 6yrs ago as didn’t want them getting in the wrong hands plus I’m a softie will any animals , there owner said they must stay together which I did but changed there diet straight away as they lived off carrot, broccoli lettuce I think, and there pen was full of sawdust which I changed straight away, I came home one day to watch my girl having 3 eggs, the male was removed and has never been back since they have there own houses, I didn’t no what to do with the eggs so went to a reptile shop and told me to put them in the bin, no way I could do that so I went on line and got ideas , I put the 3 eggs carefully on substrate , put a little bowl of water in also and kept the heat on for 12 hrs a day , I didn’t think for one moment I’d get a baby tort but I got 2 , boy and girl the 3rd egg was empty so thus is why now my torts have been separated since no more eggs in my house lol
That's good, because they can't live in pairs.
That's a pretty good hatch rate for someone that didn't know what they were doing. Lol Some of us do know or think we do and don't have it that good first time.
Yeah, I think the poor tort will be much better of being with you.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Any help needed is what we all are here for, just ask.
 

Juliespud40

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Pellets are convenient to feed and OK occasionally but they shouldn't be the only food. He should be on leafy greens and there's plenty of free weeds about now. www.thetortoisetable.org.uk is a good guide.

I don't know if your own torts are housed separately or if you are aware of this already, but torts are solitary and territorial creatures so it is very stressful for them to share small spaces even with one other tort of a different gender. When one becomes dominant by staring, following, nudging, mounting (often mistake for affection) and later barging and biting etc., it can result in illness, injury and even death. So if you do take your niece's tort back hopefully you'll keep his enclosure too.
Hiya I’d like to give you a quick update on the little tort bud as you and others have been great in replying to my texts, I’m definitely taking him back on Saturday and can’t wait to give him a proper bath and proper feed , iv also got an appointment at the vets on the 29th may which is the soonest to have his beak trimmed which is only costing £15 which is fantastic so hopefully he’ll get sorted. I wish I could send a photo of him but I’m still trying to work out how lol
 

Juliespud40

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Hiya I’d like to give you a quick update on the little tort bud as you and others have been great in replying to my texts, I’m definitely taking him back on Saturday and can’t wait to give him a proper bath and proper feed , iv also got an appointment at the vets on the 29th may which is the soonest to have his beak trimmed which is only costing £15 which is fantastic so hopefully he’ll get sorted. I wish I could send a photo of him but I’m still trying to work out how lol
 

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Lyn W

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I'm glad he's going to get some proper TLC now.
His lower jaw looks very unusual, I've only really seen the top beak overgrown before.
Maybe @ZenHerper @Tom or @Yvonne G will know why that's happened.
 

ZenHerper

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I'm glad he's going to get some proper TLC now.
His lower jaw looks very unusual, I've only really seen the top beak overgrown before.
Maybe @ZenHerper @Tom or @Yvonne G will know why that's happened.
Yeah, it's poor diet and neglect. Just needs trimming and reshaping.

Overall, he looks dehydrated but OK. Proper care should get him into Great Shape!
 

Juliespud40

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Yeah, it's poor diet and neglect. Just needs trimming and reshaping.

Overall, he looks dehydrated but OK. Proper care should get him into Great Shape!
Thanks for reply, I’m still learning myself but can see neglect when I see it, a nice warm bath to get rid off all that dry soil will make him feel much better
 

ZenHerper

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Most tortoises have an overbite, but a few are under-bitten like this. Just something to keep under observation and trim down as needed. Once shown how, many people can do the maintenance at home.
 

Juliespud40

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I’d be scared to do this myself I think but maybe I can learn, thanks again as it’s nice to talk to people who no what there doing , I took on my 2 torts not realising a big responsibility but I’m getting there
 

ZenHerper

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It may be that the top is overgrown as well, so it is good to have someone experienced work with it at this point, for sure.

Let us know how to help!
 
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