Desert Tortoise hatchling legs looks deformed

ranaway4

New Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2021
Messages
3
Location (City and/or State)
California
Hi everyone,

I have a desert tortoise hatchling that just hatched a couple days ago, out of a clutch of 6 eggs. These were accidental babies as we thought our adult was a male. We found the clutch and incubated the eggs. They hatched successfully, but the last hatchling can’t seem to use his back legs. It looks swollen in his rear left side and his left leg doesn’t really open up. He can move using his front legs but really doesn’t use the back legs at all. I’ve been keeping it in the incubator but I’m not really sure what to do. Do you think he will survive? I don’t have experience with hatchlings so I’m really not sure how to handle this situation and care. 167A7863-0F21-4B0A-B2E0-5DE7F2E1493E.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • 7BD2D6CE-5D0C-4103-9A19-30D418EA1DFC.jpeg
    7BD2D6CE-5D0C-4103-9A19-30D418EA1DFC.jpeg
    479.9 KB · Views: 22
  • 59733505-2F5E-42C2-A7AA-C3309201E0EA.jpeg
    59733505-2F5E-42C2-A7AA-C3309201E0EA.jpeg
    903.7 KB · Views: 24
  • 16FBCEFF-CE3C-4374-8F77-812C355AB5CD.jpeg
    16FBCEFF-CE3C-4374-8F77-812C355AB5CD.jpeg
    810.5 KB · Views: 24

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,550
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
I would set him up by himself. He won't have a chance being with others that can move much faster.
Hard to say if he will survive. I'm sure he can and with some help once hes a bit older, he may be able to figure it out.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,449
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Looks broken and the swelling probably means painful. An x-ray would tell you for sure.
 

ranaway4

New Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2021
Messages
3
Location (City and/or State)
California
What happened here? Any news?
I just have him in a separate tank from the others. He can only use his front legs to really move anywhere and doesn’t eat much. I’m also not sure if internal organs are even working properly. I can see him breathe through his bottom part of his shell. I am helping him as much as I can but not sure if he will survive.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,449
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
I just have him in a separate tank from the others. He can only use his front legs to really move anywhere and doesn’t eat much. I’m also not sure if internal organs are even working properly. I can see him breathe through his bottom part of his shell. I am helping him as much as I can but not sure if he will survive.
It would probably humane to euthanize him.
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,079
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
Yvonne may be right, but not if it would mean he would be put through more pain than he already is in. Really a tough one.
 
Top