- Joined
- Dec 19, 2012
- Messages
- 358
Okay, so just when I thought I was getting everything figured out, I noticed (during a soak) that one of the new babies has an injured shell.
It looks fresh to me. It's pink. The baby, named Riddles, seems to be distressed. She's not acting like herself at all....she's pacing, and running (seriously, fasted I've ever seen her move), and then she'll attack the food like she hasn't eaten in a week (I saw her eat lots just yesterday). She just seems intense and distressed.
Anyway, I have no idea what caused this. My main assumed culprit in some rocks I have stacked for a hide...one of the torts dug around the bottom of a rock and made a little hide...I'm thinking the edge might be sharp enough to do this (I've already exchanged that rock for a different one). But I don't know if that's what it was for sure.
Okay, so I guess what I really want help with is, how do I treat her shell? It seems as though it's painful, or else she's really scared. Do I keep her dry? I'm sure I should keep it clean. Is there anything I should put on it, or leave it to heal on its own?
It's Carnival here right now, and there is no way to see a vet until Wednesday at the earliest...so any advice as to how to treat her would be much appreciated.
Also, any suggestions on how to help Riddles calm down? I've removed her from the main pen (which I just moved her into two days ago), and returned her to the hatchling pen....it's smaller so I can keep a better eye on her.
Here's the pictures:
....I know it's not a super serious injury, but it must be painful, and she's young (about a 6 weeks old)....
...when I put her in the hatchling pen, she went right into her water dish, even though she just came from a soak...
It looks fresh to me. It's pink. The baby, named Riddles, seems to be distressed. She's not acting like herself at all....she's pacing, and running (seriously, fasted I've ever seen her move), and then she'll attack the food like she hasn't eaten in a week (I saw her eat lots just yesterday). She just seems intense and distressed.
Anyway, I have no idea what caused this. My main assumed culprit in some rocks I have stacked for a hide...one of the torts dug around the bottom of a rock and made a little hide...I'm thinking the edge might be sharp enough to do this (I've already exchanged that rock for a different one). But I don't know if that's what it was for sure.
Okay, so I guess what I really want help with is, how do I treat her shell? It seems as though it's painful, or else she's really scared. Do I keep her dry? I'm sure I should keep it clean. Is there anything I should put on it, or leave it to heal on its own?
It's Carnival here right now, and there is no way to see a vet until Wednesday at the earliest...so any advice as to how to treat her would be much appreciated.
Also, any suggestions on how to help Riddles calm down? I've removed her from the main pen (which I just moved her into two days ago), and returned her to the hatchling pen....it's smaller so I can keep a better eye on her.
Here's the pictures:
....I know it's not a super serious injury, but it must be painful, and she's young (about a 6 weeks old)....
...when I put her in the hatchling pen, she went right into her water dish, even though she just came from a soak...