Help! Tortoise experiencing health issues.

cbmccol

New Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2019
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2
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
I purchased a baby sulcata tortoise about 5 months ago. He has experienced a few health issues since I’ve gotten him. I’ve brought him to a couple of vet friends but they do not know much about reptiles. First, he broke his toe (which I don’t think can be fixed at his size). More alarmingly; however, a lump started to form on his neck. I let it be, hoping it would get better, but it seems to be getting larger. Also, his left side of his bottom mandible seems to be disjointed somehow. His jaw looks crooked now as the left side sits lower and out of place. Does anyone know what could be going on??? Right now he is in a 40 breeder aquarium. He’s got a hide with peat moss in the back and top soil/cypress mulch as substrate. I feed him spineless prickly pear cactus whenever I can find it, but I usually have to feed him spring mix every other day. I give him 15 minute soaks on a weekly basis.upload_2019-1-15_20-36-38.jpeg
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KarenSoCal

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Low desert 50 mi SE of Palm Springs CA
Hi, and welcome to the forum!

I suggest that first, you read these care sheets, and compare them to how you are keeping your baby.

Then, come back with questions, and knowledgeable folks will help you.

As for the lump on his neck, I'm thinking it could be an ear abscess. @Yvonne G will be able to help you with that.

You've come to the best place to learn. Again, welcome!

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

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

https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?posts/716928

Food list by @Tom:

You may need to rely on grocery store foods for now. Good foods for tortoises are "chicories," types of lettuce that are likely to be on the far side of the more common floppy green heads of lettuce most people buy. Anything labeled as simply "chicory" is good, as are radiccio, frisee, escarole, and endive; you might even find something labeled as dandelions. You may find a bag of "Spring" or "Spicy" mix that is good, just check the label to be sure it has some of the chicories I just mentioned. The leaves (just the leaves) of turnips and radishes are also good, as are carrot tops. Collards, mustard greens, bok choy, and other dark, leafy greens are okay as well. If you have any kind of Mexican/hispanic market near you, they will sell cactus, labeled "nopales." Cactus is a great food to rotate in the diet, as it is high in calcium.

You don't need to feed all of these at one time, just make sure your tortoise is getting access to different types of food. As you get more experienced, you can find the better types of food listed on the care sheets.

Here are a whole bunch of non-grocery store suggestions.

Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Nasturtium
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:

There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:

"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes

Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html

Homegrown alfalfa

Mazuri Tortoise Chow

ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food

Ones that you can buy in every store:
Arugula
Lambs lettuce
Chicory
Kale
Mustard greens
Organic kohlrabi leafs
Organic carrot leafs
Organic radish leafs
Dandelions
Radiccio
 

Yvonne G

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Hi, and welcome!

Sorry, I don't know about that lump, but that might be the reason the jaw seems misaligned. It's too far back to be an ear abscess.
 

cbmccol

New Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2019
Messages
2
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
Yea it seems to be a dermal issue. Im sorry, but what exactly are you saying could be the cause of the jaw misalignment?
 
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