Need help!!!! Eastern Hermann bruise???!!

[Chipchip]

Hello!

I was away from home, i came back and chippie was trying to climb out, I fed him some tortoise pellets and was active and eating normally.

But here are the photos, I’m not sure if it’s bruise or not. I’m very worried bc I’m visiting my parents and vet is closed until Monday,

My first guess is he climbed and fell, If it’s not bruise what could it be? But if it is, would it be okay to wait until Monday morning to treat? Or is this dark green and purple around a critical condition? It was a little swollen too I think.. I tried pressing the shell it’s a little softer than the other normal area? That’s why I think it’s swollen?

Google says it might be but I don’t trust so I came for opinion..

Pls help!

 

[_The_Beast_]

Can you post photos of his plastron (underside) and full body photos to help to see the extent of the discolouration? It could be bruising from blunt force damage (like a drop or substantial fall) or it could be indicative of a larger problem like septicaemia if this discolouration and softness is also found elsewhere.

The more info you're able to share about the enclosure (with pics), the easier it will be for folks on the forum to help you identify issues and care needs.

How old is Chippie? This issue aside, his shell looks really nice and smooth.

 

[Chipchip]

Can you post photos of his plastron (underside) and full body photos to help to see the extent of the discolouration? It could be bruising from blunt force damage (like a drop or substantial fall) or it could be indicative of a larger problem like septicaemia if this discolouration and softness is also found elsewhere.

The more info you're able to share about the enclosure (with pics), the easier it will be for folks on the forum to help you identify issues and care needs.

How old is Chippie? This issue aside, his shell looks really nice and smooth.

Thank you so much for replying, that was my first guess too, he has had bruises bfr just not this bad and only red dots..

Recently been to vet few months back, they say he is really healthy weight wise and shell growth and good calcium intake

Here are some more photos of encloser and pictures, the other part of unbruised shell are normal (not soft)

Meanwhile can u elaborate on the other worse issue like septicemia please?
This is starting to scare me really bad

He has a dome wood log hide out, but I took it out for now just to minimize more fall damage and fall risk..

 

[Chipchip]

Can you post photos of his plastron (underside) and full body photos to help to see the extent of the discolouration? It could be bruising from blunt force damage (like a drop or substantial fall) or it could be indicative of a larger problem like septicaemia if this discolouration and softness is also found elsewhere.

The more info you're able to share about the enclosure (with pics), the easier it will be for folks on the forum to help you identify issues and care needs.

How old is Chippie? This issue aside, his shell looks really nice and smooth.

He is around 1 years old, I’m not sure if this is how shell growths, but it’s so smooth and shiny since I bathe and brush him gently every day. He is drinking water right now, maybe cause the heat lamp is hot like 35-38 degrees

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

He is around 1 years old, I’m not sure if this is how shell growths, but it’s so smooth and shiny since I bathe and brush him gently every day. He is drinking water right now, maybe cause the heat lamp is hot like 35-38 degrees

Looking at the photos, I’d say he’s over a year old, maybe not completely full grown(Herman’s get just slightly bigger that Russians) but he looks like an adult to me in the pics, especially since you can already see he’s a boy, did you have him from a baby or did a pet store give you his age? They often lie about things like that.

In regards to the problem, there does appear to be some bruising near his butt on his carapace, the fact you say that spot in particular feels soften than the rest, could indicate there’s been a bleed underneath causing the bruise, would you say that bump has always been there? I’ve circled the parts that are concerning me a bit and look like bruising. Plastron looks fine to me in the pictures though which is good! If you’re only able to get him in Monday that should be ok, so long as he’s eating and active I don’t think a day is going to hurt, but we’ll see what others say.


In the meantime I hope you don’t mind my saying that there’s a few things to address set up wise, unless this is some sort of temporary home? I can see you’re using halogen lights which aren’t the best choice for a few reasons, and those clamps can be be an accident waiting to happen, we’ve seen a few instances of the bulbs falling in when people rely on the clamp.

Were you able to look into the products/links given in this thread? I remember you mentioning you were buying t5 uv is that right?

Enclosure

Hi guys! I have a Hermann tortoise approx couple months old, how do I know when I need to upgrade the size of his tank? Right now his enclosure is 20L Length:30” Width:20” Height:20” If I buy a new one what would be a nice brand? Or I can build a new one using ikea bookcase? (Just curious...

tortoiseforum.org

I don’t think I included this one originally, perhaps it’ll inspire some ideas

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

And maybe this link will be better instead of the one for babies

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

Also be sure that 35-38 reading isn’t all over, that’s just a basking temp, he needs a cooler spot around 23/24 too

 

[Chipchip]

Looking at the photos, I’d say he’s over a year old, maybe not completely full grown(Herman’s get just slightly bigger that Russians) but he looks like an adult to me in the pics, especially since you can already see he’s a boy, did you have him from a baby or did a pet store give you his age? They often lie about things like that.

In regards to the problem, there does appear to be some bruising near his butt on his carapace, the fact you say that spot in particular feels soften than the rest, could indicate there’s been a bleed underneath causing the bruise, would you say that bump has always been there? I’ve circled the parts that are concerning me a bit and look like bruising. Plastron looks fine to me in the pictures though which is good! If you’re only able to get him in Monday that should be ok, so long as he’s eating and active I don’t think a day is going to hurt, but we’ll see what others say.
View attachment 390267

In the meantime I hope you don’t mind my saying that there’s a few things to address set up wise, unless this is some sort of temporary home? I can see you’re using halogen lights which aren’t the best choice for a few reasons, and those clamps can be be an accident waiting to happen, we’ve seen a few instances of the bulbs falling in when people rely on the clamp.

Were you able to look into the products/links given in this thread? I remember you mentioning you were buying t5 uv is that right?

Enclosure

Hi guys! I have a Hermann tortoise approx couple months old, how do I know when I need to upgrade the size of his tank? Right now his enclosure is 20L Length:30” Width:20” Height:20” If I buy a new one what would be a nice brand? Or I can build a new one using ikea bookcase? (Just curious...

tortoiseforum.org

I don’t think I included this one originally, perhaps it’ll inspire some ideas

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

And maybe this link will be better instead of the one for babies

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

Also be sure that 35-38 reading isn’t all over, that’s just a basking temp, he needs a cooler spot around 23/24 too

Yes! I completely understand what ur saying, my parents came from Hong Kong to Toronto and I’m here to sleepover at their apartment from Friday night to Sunday afternoon, so it is a temporary home, that’s why it’s a tote box.

The cage at home has plants and uv pro t5 light and floodlight ceramic heat lamp. And the size is one of those huge ikea tall bookshelf’s that I put together..
there is light and shade in the tote box.

Speaking of, I put a lot of dirt so he can dig so he is doing that right now. cause I did worry that the dome cave wouldn’t fit in the tote box and have enough walking room for him.

I got chippie when he was half my palm size, a lot of people been saying he is growing really fast, u probably still see the shell is still growing. last time I went to the vet he is 392 lbs I think.

Yes the bumps that u circle are what I see and what I think that might be bruises too, he is a real climber and very adventurous…

Here is the cage at home in the photo, feel free to take a look, I keep it 80% moisturized since I was considering he is still a baby…so ur telling me 1 yrs old is consider an adult or r u saying this will be his near-full-grown size?

In those photos, the bruise parts, it feels like smth is shedding? Or u think it’s just stains? It still feels smooth for sure (just a big bump).

 

[Chipchip]

Looking at the photos, I’d say he’s over a year old, maybe not completely full grown(Herman’s get just slightly bigger that Russians) but he looks like an adult to me in the pics, especially since you can already see he’s a boy, did you have him from a baby or did a pet store give you his age? They often lie about things like that.

In regards to the problem, there does appear to be some bruising near his butt on his carapace, the fact you say that spot in particular feels soften than the rest, could indicate there’s been a bleed underneath causing the bruise, would you say that bump has always been there? I’ve circled the parts that are concerning me a bit and look like bruising. Plastron looks fine to me in the pictures though which is good! If you’re only able to get him in Monday that should be ok, so long as he’s eating and active I don’t think a day is going to hurt, but we’ll see what others say.
View attachment 390267

In the meantime I hope you don’t mind my saying that there’s a few things to address set up wise, unless this is some sort of temporary home? I can see you’re using halogen lights which aren’t the best choice for a few reasons, and those clamps can be be an accident waiting to happen, we’ve seen a few instances of the bulbs falling in when people rely on the clamp.

Were you able to look into the products/links given in this thread? I remember you mentioning you were buying t5 uv is that right?

Enclosure

Hi guys! I have a Hermann tortoise approx couple months old, how do I know when I need to upgrade the size of his tank? Right now his enclosure is 20L Length:30” Width:20” Height:20” If I buy a new one what would be a nice brand? Or I can build a new one using ikea bookcase? (Just curious...

tortoiseforum.org

I don’t think I included this one originally, perhaps it’ll inspire some ideas

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

And maybe this link will be better instead of the one for babies

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

Also be sure that 35-38 reading isn’t all over, that’s just a basking temp, he needs a cooler spot around 23/24 too

Yes! My parents r coming from Hong Kong to Toronto to visit me, so I’m just sleeping over this weekend, I’m heading back to my place on Sunday so it is a temporary enclosure that’s why it’s a totebox, I attached some photos of the cage at home, it’s the size of tall ikea book shelf,
-some plants,
-lighting: Arcadia pro t5 uvb light & ceramic heat bulb flood light 75w

When I got him they say he was a few months old, he used to fit in half of my palm

People do say he is growing so fast, last time to the vet he was 392 lbs already… I can attach some photos of that too, I got him for maybe 1yr and a half (since last December)

Thanks for the link I’ll surely check them out, the lamp is stable, and didn’t fall while I went out, maybe he climbed the dome cave and fell… adventurous climber really.

Except for the circled parts pointing out bumps and bruises so far the shell is pretty smooth and shiny as I bathe and brush everyday and he does chew on cuttlefish bone himself occasionally at home, the vet did press on the shell too during the visit last time and say it’s pretty good hardness.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Yes! I completely understand what ur saying, my parents came from Hong Kong to Toronto and I’m here to sleepover at their apartment from Friday night to Sunday afternoon, so it is a temporary home, that’s why it’s a tote box.

The cage at home has plants and uv pro t5 light and floodlight ceramic heat lamp. And the size is one of those huge ikea tall bookshelf’s that I put together..
there is light and shade in the tote box.

Speaking of, I put a lot of dirt so he can dig so he is doing that right now. cause I did worry that the dome cave wouldn’t fit in the tote box and have enough walking room for him.

I got chippie when he was half my palm size, a lot of people been saying he is growing really fast, u probably still see the shell is still growing. last time I went to the vet he is 392 lbs I think.

Yes the bumps that u circle are what I see and what I think that might be bruises too, he is a real climber and very adventurous…

Here is the cage at home in the photo, feel free to take a look, I keep it 80% moisturized since I was considering he is still a baby…so ur telling me 1 yrs old is consider an adult or r u saying this will be his near-full-grown size?

In those photos, the bruise parts, it feels like smth is shedding? Or u think it’s just stains? It still feels smooth for sure (just a big bump).

Aw no worries! I thought it looked temporary, he has a great set up with you! Must just be a faster grower, I think they all have different rates, and I must say he looks a testament to how good your care is! Most Hermans I see around a year don’t look as big as your guy did in those initial photos, he doesn’t look as big in these ones, and those pics of when you first got him show he was definitely a baby, perhaps it’s just the pictures perspective in those first ones, it’s also impressive he’s already so easy to sex, but he was only tiny when you got him, I stand corrected he’s on the younger side, doesn’t look totally full grown in any of them, so still a little bit of growing to do. By all means keep housing him how you are for now, he’s looking great.

It’s hard for me to say for certain on the photos, but my initial impression is some sort of bruising when zooming in, the bit where the bump is could just be colouring, but the red pinkish bit above did look a bit suspicious, I’ve zoomed in on that other photo of him in his other enclosure and I can see it just looks to be the shape of his shell, so I don’t think that’s anything sudden which is good, but I can’t really see that colouring in the photo, leading me to think he might’ve bruised himself somehow.

Hopefully the more experienced folks will come take a look for you soon, they might have some more insightful answers, some things to look out for and tips on aftercare etc

 

[COmtnLady]

Thank you so much for replying, that was my first guess too, he has had bruises bfr just not this bad and only red dots..

Recently been to vet few months back, they say he is really healthy weight wise and shell growth and good calcium intake

Here are some more photos of encloser and pictures, the other part of unbruised shell are normal (not soft)

Meanwhile can u elaborate on the other worse issue like septicemia please?
This is starting to scare me really bad

He has a dome wood log hide out, but I took it out for now just to minimize more fall damage and fall risk..

Please post more than one nice clear picture of his plastron. With that red light reflecting off of it, I can't even guess what it looks like.

 

[_The_Beast_]

Please post more than one nice clear picture of his plastron. With that red light reflecting off of it, I can't even guess what it looks like.

Echoing this. The right light makes it really difficult to tell the condition of the plastron. Basically, we're looking to see if the red bruising is isolated to his rump or if the plastron and other areas also have it. When the bruising is everywhere and the shell is soft, this indicates that things are very dire (and is often caused by improper care, such as improper lighting, food, and temps, for an extended period of time). We expect to see some blood vessels, more like 'blushing' than bruising, as this indicates healthy shell growth.

Based on all the additional info you shared, I think it looks like he fell or was dropped and landed on his butt. It will likely heal with time.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Yeah I couldn’t see obvious bruises on the plastron like dark spots, but a better picture would definitely be good