Hello everyone, I am writing this post as I have recently rescued a snow leopard tortoise, I had noticed a guy had one up for sale on kijiji and the condition of him looked horrible so I picked him up the same day and immediately took him to the vet.
I named him Jambo. Jambo is two years old but only weighs 45 grams and is the size of a 3 month old which I find super odd (This I have never seen before). On his plastron it seems like he has a wide spread fungal infection that looks as if it had been around for a long time and never treated. Jambo is also missing three nails (toes) two on one back foot and one on another back foot.
I was told Jambo was housed with a four year old Indian star which is also unacceptable. I believe this is the reason for the missing toes. They seemed to be gone for a long time now and are cleanly healed.
The previous owner who clearly neglected him had told me he noticed the "discolouration" on his plastron for a while now, he also said he housed him outdoors in toronto during the warm season, eating lawn his grass, random leaves, and weeds. In the winter he fed him mazuri LS & store bought greens. - I believe jumbo never got to eat much as the larger tortoise he was housed with was much larger and probably ate everything before jambo could get much in him.
During Jambos first vet visit this week, we did a stool sample and had found pin worms (gave treatment yesterday). We also did a scrape on the infected area on his plastron which we are still waiting on results (Should arrive next week). The Dr. gave me a solution to apply to the plastron temporally and I am seeing some positive results so far (see images of before and after).
Jambo currently seems to be great now that I have been providing him with the husbandry he needs. He is active, alert, eats like a tank. Stool is a little soft but nothing concerning at the moment. He has a nice, tough shell, breaths normal, eyes are clear, and overall seems to be doing good. With that being said, we all know how well they can hide their issues.
My question for you guys (I know there are a large number of experts on here) would be; at two years old... why is he only 45 grams and the size of a hatchling? - Could this be because the previous owner neglected the issue on his plastron and due to this, growth has been focused on healing rather than growing? Or possibly due to a lack of proper diet. Could stress stunt growth as well? And lastly, could it more simply be the pin worms?
Another theory of mine is that he was born with a short intestine which isn't giving him all the proper nutrients during digestion.
I am looking forward to what the results say once they come back from the vet and I will also be booking him in for x-rays to see whats going on internally this week. I'd love to hear your thoughts as well here on Tortoise Forum.
Please see photos attached of jambo as well as his plastron issue (let me know if you think its a fungal infection).
Thank you all for taking the time to read my post. I look forward to your comments.
I named him Jambo. Jambo is two years old but only weighs 45 grams and is the size of a 3 month old which I find super odd (This I have never seen before). On his plastron it seems like he has a wide spread fungal infection that looks as if it had been around for a long time and never treated. Jambo is also missing three nails (toes) two on one back foot and one on another back foot.
I was told Jambo was housed with a four year old Indian star which is also unacceptable. I believe this is the reason for the missing toes. They seemed to be gone for a long time now and are cleanly healed.
The previous owner who clearly neglected him had told me he noticed the "discolouration" on his plastron for a while now, he also said he housed him outdoors in toronto during the warm season, eating lawn his grass, random leaves, and weeds. In the winter he fed him mazuri LS & store bought greens. - I believe jumbo never got to eat much as the larger tortoise he was housed with was much larger and probably ate everything before jambo could get much in him.
During Jambos first vet visit this week, we did a stool sample and had found pin worms (gave treatment yesterday). We also did a scrape on the infected area on his plastron which we are still waiting on results (Should arrive next week). The Dr. gave me a solution to apply to the plastron temporally and I am seeing some positive results so far (see images of before and after).
Jambo currently seems to be great now that I have been providing him with the husbandry he needs. He is active, alert, eats like a tank. Stool is a little soft but nothing concerning at the moment. He has a nice, tough shell, breaths normal, eyes are clear, and overall seems to be doing good. With that being said, we all know how well they can hide their issues.
My question for you guys (I know there are a large number of experts on here) would be; at two years old... why is he only 45 grams and the size of a hatchling? - Could this be because the previous owner neglected the issue on his plastron and due to this, growth has been focused on healing rather than growing? Or possibly due to a lack of proper diet. Could stress stunt growth as well? And lastly, could it more simply be the pin worms?
Another theory of mine is that he was born with a short intestine which isn't giving him all the proper nutrients during digestion.
I am looking forward to what the results say once they come back from the vet and I will also be booking him in for x-rays to see whats going on internally this week. I'd love to hear your thoughts as well here on Tortoise Forum.
Please see photos attached of jambo as well as his plastron issue (let me know if you think its a fungal infection).
Thank you all for taking the time to read my post. I look forward to your comments.