Help please! (bruise??? on shell?)

[jjaymeza]

My tortoise seems to be slightly discolored (blueish) on a couple of his panels and I want my baby in the best health possible if anyone can tell me what this is from I have a heat and uv lamp I soak and spoil the heck out of my baby with healthy greens, hay, etc. could this be shell rot?

 

[Bambam1989]

It's not shell rot, but I do think it may be sign of a possible problem.
Please answer the following so that we can better help you.
1. What is your temperature readings and humidity readings in your enclosure?
2. What kind of lights are you using for uv?
3. How often and how long are you soaking your tort for?
4. How long have you had this tort and where did you get it from?
5. Do you know the weight of your tort?

 

[jjaymeza]

It's not shell rot, but I do think it may be sign of a possible problem.
Please answer the following so that we can better help you.
1. What is your temperature readings and humidity readings in your enclosure?
2. What kind of lights are you using for uv?
3. How often and how long are you soaking your tort for?
4. How long have you had this tort and where did you get it from?
5. Do you know the weight of your tort?

I wish I was able to tell you the temperature readings I am buying a temperature strip now I know the night bulb is 75 degrees from where it’s at just out of curiosity what temp is required? The night bulb is a 75 watt night vision heat lamp, the uvb lamp is a 13 watt 10 uvb, and the heat lamp is a 75 watt basking sun lamp. The heat and the uvb is a dual lamp.
I soak him for 2-3 min daily.
I’ve had this tortoise for this is month 2 now and I got him from Russell feed and supply. I also don’t have the weight of this tortoise. :/ thanks so much for your swift reply I’m considering an exotic vet.

 

[Bambam1989]

The coolest area of your enclosure should never be below 80f and you need a basking area that reads 95-100F. These temps are VERY important. If temps stay lower than 80 your tort can become sick. And they NEED a basking area to read 95-100 so that their bodies can heat up enough for their bodies to properly digest food.
Your tort needs to be soaked for at least 15minutes a day. I would actually recommend soaking for as long as possible. Remember to keep the water warm the entire time.
You need to read these links and follow their advice to help give your baby a chance of survival.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-45180.html

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.64290/

 

[Bambam1989]

We want to help your tort live a long healthy life.
After reading those links make the adjustments to your care and enclosure as quickly as possible. If you need help or advice just ask. Alot of new members will even post photos of their enclosure so that the experienced members can look for possible hazards or give tips on improving it.

 

[Pearly]

My tortoise seems to be slightly discolored (blueish) on a couple of his panels and I want my baby in the best health possible if anyone can tell me what this is from I have a heat and uv lamp I soak and spoil the heck out of my baby with healthy greens, hay, etc. could this be shell rot? View attachment 235614

Shell rot is usually on the underside of the tort. I’d be worried about something much more serious that that. It is imperative that you have an accurate way to measure the temps and would be good to know the humidity as well. This baby NEEDS to be kept at least at 80F at ALL TIMES, day and night. Basking temps higher of course. 80 F should be the lowest of his/hers enclosure. Is the baby tort active, eating well? Pee/poo ok? Are his eyes & nostrils clear, without drainage? More close up pics please? Of the area of your concern

 

[jjaymeza]

Shell rot is usually on the underside of the tort. I’d be worried about something much more serious that that. It is imperative that you have an accurate way to measure the temps and would be good to know the humidity as well. This baby NEEDS to be kept at least at 80F at ALL TIMES, day and night. Basking temps higher of course. 80 F should be the lowest of his/hers enclosure. Is the baby tort active, eating well? Pee/poo ok? Are his eyes & nostrils clear, without drainage? More close up pics please? Of the area of your concern

I’m going to be honest I haven’t actually seen my tortoise pee/poo and I haven’t seen any drainage also the bottom of the tortoise seems to be okay. And my tortoise eats like a little piggy and I try and take him out once a day.

 

[Pearly]

I’m going to be honest I haven’t actually seen my tortoise pee/poo and I haven’t seen any drainage also the bottom of the tortoise seems to be okay. And my tortoise eats like a little piggy and I try and take him out once a day. View attachment 235630

Just keep him WARM!!!! so he can digest that food and move it along his GI track. They need to warm up their core temp to 85F I think, in order to digest their food. Otherwise it’ll just sit there in their gut and rot. Also baby torts shells are pretty thin and can be see through. I’m not liking that bluish color on yours. Please get him to 85F and let him stay that warm, plus warm soaks 95-100F water temp, at least once if not twice daily, and keep that up until you see a nice poo

 

[Big Charlie]

I don't like the sound of a night vision bulb. It should be dark at night. You can use a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) for heat without light. Make sure your daytime bulbs aren't of the coil variety, as they can hurt a tort's eyes.

 

[Melis]

I’m going to be honest I haven’t actually seen my tortoise pee/poo and I haven’t seen any drainage also the bottom of the tortoise seems to be okay. And my tortoise eats like a little piggy and I try and take him out once a day. View attachment 235630

Do his eyes normally look like this, or is this just a bad pic?

 

[jjaymeza]

Do his eyes normally look like this, or is this just a bad pic?

It could just be a bad pic my tortoise was sleeping in this one his eyes are dark when he opens them.

 

[vladimir]

I wish I was able to tell you the temperature readings I am buying a temperature strip now I know the night bulb is 75 degrees from where it’s at just out of curiosity what temp is required? The night bulb is a 75 watt night vision heat lamp, the uvb lamp is a 13 watt 10 uvb, and the heat lamp is a 75 watt basking sun lamp. The heat and the uvb is a dual lamp.
I soak him for 2-3 min daily.
I’ve had this tortoise for this is month 2 now and I got him from Russell feed and supply. I also don’t have the weight of this tortoise. :/ thanks so much for your swift reply I’m considering an exotic vet.

I would get an infrared temperature gun like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0759DD7PF/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

it allows you to check temps accurately in specific locations. The strips just give you a general temperature which may or may not be accurate.

 

[Pearly]

I would get an infrared temperature gun like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0759DD7PF/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

it allows you to check temps accurately in specific locations. The strips just give you a general temperature which may or may not be accurate.

I second that! I have been loving mine!!! It’s the best way to know all your temps at ground level, inside the hide, the temp of your tort’s carapace, the ground outside, the bath water ... temp guns are the best!!!

 

[Pearly]

Btw, have you seen him poo yet? And how is he doing?

 

[jjaymeza]

I would get an infrared temperature gun like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0759DD7PF/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

it allows you to check temps accurately in specific locations. The strips just give you a general temperature which may or may not be accurate.

Thank you so much!

 

[jjaymeza]

Btw, have you seen him poo yet? And how is he doing?

I see poo in the pin but I haven’t personally seen him do it. I’m starting to soak longer and I rearranged his home I have to wait on the vet till Thursday.

 

[jjaymeza]

Btw, have you seen him poo yet? And how is he doing?

Oh my gosh I soaked him longer today and guess what!?!? Poo!

 

[Big Charlie]

Oh my gosh I soaked him longer today and guess what!?!? Poo! View attachment 235687

Maybe you haven't been soaking him long enough up till now. Most torts go in the soak. It is a good way to keep the enclosure clean.

 

[jjaymeza]

I don't like the sound of a night vision bulb. It should be dark at night. You can use a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) for heat without light. Make sure your daytime bulbs aren't of the coil variety, as they can hurt a tort's eyes.

I haven’t been using the night bulb for to long but your right maybe I haven’t been soaking long enough I thought 2-3 min was long enough but today I did 20 thank you so much for the help !

 

[Tom]

I have to wait on the vet till Thursday.

There is nothing a vet can do to help this tortoise. They will charge you a couple of hundred dollars and then do a "vitamin" injection which can be harmful or fatal.

Leave your tortoise at home and make sure it has the right temperatures, diet, hydration, and living conditions. That is what this tortoise needs and that is the best thing anyone can do for it.

If you want to meet the vet and get signed up so they know you, leave the tiny baby at home and take in a stool sample for a fecal check