I was given what they said was a Greek tortoise. It won't eat, has like scales over its eyes. It is weak. I was told they have had it since December and have never soaked it and fed it very little. No heat and no uvb. I'm waiting for my vet to call. Any advice is welcome. Thanks
Help sick tortoise
- Thread starter LeeB60
- Start date
Get him into a tub of warm water (temperature as if for a baby's bath) with the water level just up to where the top and bottom shells meet and watch him while he soaks.
Repeat again with more warm water in another soak before the first soak starts to get cool. Do this for at least 40 minutes. This is to rehydrate him. It may save his life if it's not too late.
Repeat again with more warm water in another soak before the first soak starts to get cool. Do this for at least 40 minutes. This is to rehydrate him. It may save his life if it's not too late.
tempest979
Active Member
Umm, that looks like a box turtle to me, not a Greek tortoise. Am I wrong?
That's what I thought too, but whatever it is, it's been dehydrated.
tempest979
Active Member
OK! So I'm not seeing things. And yes you are right.
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Are its eyes as sunken in as they look from what I can see in the photo? If so, are you sure it isn't deceased already? Have you seen it move at all?
Definitely not a tortoise. It could be a dark Box Turtle, but the dark color and the size of the head makes me think of an African water turtle of some type.
Soaked her for awhile, but she can't hold her head up. Going to the vet tomarrow to get some vitamins and stuff for her. Poor baby. Thank you for responding.
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Yeah I think this is an African mud turtle Pelusios castaneus
I have a shallow lid I keep filling in her tote. She lays her head in it.
No webbing on her feether feet.
Put something under the end of the tub her head is in so that if she can't hold her head up the water is too shallow to drown her.
As depleted as she is, it is not a good idea to allow injections.
As depleted as she is, it is not a good idea to allow injections.
I also agree that this is a water turtle, not a Greek tortoise.
I believe this is an African sideneck. Care is similar to a red ear slider. It needs to be in water. If it's ill keep in shallow water for now until you can get essentials such as uvb, filtration, basking and heat.
Keep the water clean, and try offering something such as shrimp, worms, or maybe fish.
Keep the water clean, and try offering something such as shrimp, worms, or maybe fish.
It's not going to be injections, just oral supplements
Thanks. I finally got a closer look when I could see her feet still for a few seconds, she does have webbing between her toes on her back feet. Not her front though.
Can the shrimp be canned or frozen?
The_Four_Toed_Edward
Well-Known Member
What kind of oral supplements?
Frozen would be best, as the can may have added sodium. You could even flip over a few logs in your yard and collect a few worms.
