Here we go again. Yesterday I went to Petco just to pick up some cuttle bones for my tortoises. I happened to walk by the tortoise tank that they have there. I looked in and all the tortoises looked horrible. They were all Russians and they were all extremely dry looking. I asked one of the attendantsto let me see the tortoises in the tank. When he opened the tank there were six tortoises in there. All of them were so dry it look like they had chalk all over them. As I was looking at them I picked up several and they were so lightweight it was obvious they were severely dehydrated. Two of the tortoises were DEAD!! there was fresh water in the tank but it was in one of those death bowls. I don't think any of the tortoises had the strength to even get water on their own if they wanted to. Underneath the log was one little female. She was barely 4 inches. She actually looked very good alert healthy she was dry but not as dry as the others. I think that all of the tortoises in that tank with the exception of the female are doomed and are going to die. I frankly think it's too late for them.i spoke to the manager. I called the district manager. I made them take all the tortoises that we're still in there out of the tank and soak them and dispose of the dead ones. I'm certainly not a doctor but I'm willing to bet that the only reason those two tortoises died was because they were severely dehydrated and stressed from being wild caught. I bought the little female. I think she's the only one in that tank that even had a chance to to live. I couldn't leave her there to die. I wish I could have taken them all but again, I really think the others only had hours to live. I brought her home and soaked her. She ate like a champ and pooped. she explored her new hospital tank for a whe and after that she ate and then she buried her self nice and deep and slept all night long. I expected her to stay buried but this morning first thing she was up and moving around her tank again. I soaked her again and she ate again and pooped and peed. I actually think she's pretty healthy. The only issue that she might have is her poop is a light green as opposed to being dark greenish brown. It is fibrous and it's not loose so I'm going to get her on really good food and watch her for the next few days. I'll probably take her to the vet next week although I don't think she's in serious need of one at this time. I can't believe the conditions that those for tortoises were in. Just another large chain pet store story. And by the way just what I needed another Russian tortoise. I now have two females and one male.
Before soaking and after soaking. I also put a drop or two of vitamin E on her she'll.
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Before soaking and after soaking. I also put a drop or two of vitamin E on her she'll.
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