I’m also reading into his medical papers and he had hazy lungs. I’ll bet pneumonia played a hand in this as well. He was such a tough little guy though so he didn’t show a single sign.
I will add another one in the "were dandelions fed" list. Mine always had pinkish fleshy colored urates after a week with dandelions in the food rotation.
I’ll make a longer post later.
But I’m starting to think he had a chronic liver condition. Since the breeder starts his torts well, I’m assuming it was either genetic, or based on the fact that his humidity was low the first month I had him.
I think the condition was effectively masked by...
Lini had a full life in nine months. He was spoiled rotten and always comfortable. I pride myself on that.
However, yes, I have a lot of reading to do to make sure I’m up to the task of providing longevity. I’m not sure I’d get another hatchling though. It’s hard to say at this point. Maybe...
I cannot, and will not let it ruin my friendship. My friend admits that his attention wasn't perfect, especially in regards to soaking duration, but to be completely honest, I feel as though this was one of those health issues that you don't see symptoms until it's too late. I quite literally...
The X-ray all but ruled out impaction, and his diet was explicitly ripped from the Russian tortoise care sheet on this forum.
As far as UVB light, he had a 10.0 tube bulb switched out every 6 months and was getting some natural sunlight in the summer months. I do believe that this was...
Unfortunately he passed away today.
The vet x ray scanned him yesterday and thought he had gas built up in his GI tract and that he didn’t move his legs out of choice to avoid pain. She also saw a slight haziness in his lung and thought it was an RI and prescribed Fortaz and he got his first...
Any weight he put on yesterday from the soaks and light meal, he lost during the night. He went from 154 on 7/26 to 127 on 8/5 to 145 on 8/6 back to 126 today. I’m so puzzled as to what’s going on with my baby.
Well, vet appointment at noon today. Hopefully I get some answers and a solution.
UPDATE:
His appetite came back today, but I didn't let him eat much in case it's a blockage. Don't want sepsis to set in. He refused aloe, so I rubbed his normal food in it and fed. Maybe that will help.
I keep soaking him several times for an hour. Before his latest soak, I put him on the...
Another update: I soaked him for 3 hours cumulatively tonight. He gained 4 grams from literally nothing but soaking, which leads me to believe he is severely dehydrated.
As much as I want to trust my friend... there's NO WAY he kept the humidity at the proper levels. I'll bet he's got the...
I've been feeding him according to the Russian Care Sheet on this forum since I had him last November with no such flare ups. I do plan on taking him to a vet though. There's an exotics center not too far from me and I already took tomorrow from work to do such.
As far as the travel...
I really don’t think so. My friend and his girlfriend who took care are both registered nurses, so at the very least they understand delicacy. I walked them through exactly the routine I performed for him daily.
Even if they did good up, this is one of my closest friends and I would trust...
Quick update... when I rub the “sensitive spot” at the end of the carapace (right over the “bum” where lots of dogs and some torts either love or HATE being rubbed). For the record, he HATES it.
Immediately he starts pushing with all 4 legs, swinging his butt end around town. This isn’t what...
I was sent daily pictures of his dish being filled in the morning. I packed different foods every day, and saw them all, so I'm confident it wasn't that. Additionally, there were poops in every soak except yesterday's.
I'm afraid that maybe the extra mazuri I gave to alleviate travel stress...
Hi, All,
I haven't had to post here in some time, as all has been going well, but that unfortunately has seemed to change.
My Russian Tort, Tortellini (Lini for short), about 11 months old, seems to have suddenly started declining.
Last week, I went on vacation all week. I left the tortoise...
From those pictures that shell looks pretty good.
Did the tortoise poop or pass urates (the white stuff) in the soak. When mine does that, I always have to soak it in a new clean bath because otherwise it smells kinda like burning arm hair/ chemicals, which I’m pretty sure comes from the uric...