Eugene has worms!

[Blastoise]

My male Russian tortoise, Eugene, pooped this morning while I had him out on the deck, and there was a bunch of small, white worms in his poo! I've made a vet appointment for Friday. I've been watching him the last three months because I got him from a place that housed him with greeks and redfoots, and this is the first time I've seen the worms. He is very healthy otherwise. I'll let you know what the vet says.

 

[Tom]

Those are pinworms. Pretty easily treated. The eggs are very small and light weight and can be carried in on the wind. These are not uncommon in tortoises. Not a big deal. When I used to deal with chimps we had to worm them for these every six months. In between wormings the density would get so high that their feces would sometimes writhe with them. As new drugs and preventatives came to market we got these under control, but it was nasty in those early days...