Overgrown beak

[Sulcatachris]

My Russian tort has a overgrown beak. He's eating good, I want to know what I can do about his beak.

 

[KarenSoCal]

Could you post a picture of him straight on from the front? As close as you can and still keep it sharply focused?

Then @Yvonne G will be able to help you trim it for him.

 

[Sulcatachris]

Could you post a picture of him straight on from the front? As close as you can and still keep it sharply focused?

Then @Yvonne G will be able to help you trim it for him.

 

[Sulcatachris]

Let me know if that's a good enough picture

 

[KarenSoCal]

Let me know if that's a good enough picture

We can't see the beak. Take the picture with him looking straight ahead at the camera.

 

[Sulcatachris]

 

[Sulcatachris]

View attachment 311875

 

[Sulcatachris]

What should I do? He's eats good.

 

[Sulcatachris]

What should I do? He's eats good.

 

[Maggie3fan]

You can use a dremel tool and trim it. Or a toenail clipper, or a finger nail file. Or a Vet can do it easily

 

[KarenSoCal]

You started a new thread...good job on the picture this time!! ?

Maggie is correct about what to use to trim it yourself. If you are afraid to do it yourself (I think I would be), the vet can do it.

 

[Sulcatachris]

Thank you!

 

[Sulcatachris]

My Russian tort has a overgrown beak. He's eating good, I want to know what I can do about his beak.

 

[Sulcatachris]

You started a new thread...good job on the picture this time!! ?

Maggie is correct about what to use to trim it yourself. If you are afraid to do it yourself (I think I would be), the vet can do it.

I'm going to take him to the vet. Thank you!

 

[evansmom]

We used a dremel and did it ourselves. It's a TWO person job -- one person uses the tool while the other person holds the head and tortoise's body steady. Don't be afraid -- it goes pretty quicklly. When the tortoise's head is out of the shell (hold the head out gently but firmly as the tortoise won't like it), the second person can usually do the "dremel-ing" (is that a word? ha ha). It two us two attempts before we were comfortable with doing the task, but it wasn't that traumatic and the tortoise seems to be able to eat more comfortably -- our guy adjusted to the improved bite quickly and has been eating pretty well. There's are lots of videos and advice on YouTube (some good and some not as helpful) - just Google "trimming a tortoise beak."

 

[Sulcatachris]

Thank you for the advice. I'm going to take him to the vet. I don't have a dremel and would feel better knowing someone professional can do it.

 

[evansmom]

View attachment 311875

We used a dremel and did it ourselves. It's a TWO person job -- one person uses the tool while the other person holds the head and tortoise's body steady. Don't be afraid -- it goes pretty quickly. We wrapped the tortoise in a soft towel to keep his feet out of the way. Hold the head out gently but firmly as the tortoise won't like it). The second person can usually do the "dremel-ing" (is that a word? ha ha). Be careful not to trim too much and definitely stop sooner than later if you or your partner think you've done enough -- trimming too much could cause bleeding, which would not be good. It took us two attempts before we were comfortable with doing the task, but it wasn't that traumatic and the tortoise seems to be able to eat more comfortably -- our guy adjusted to the improved bite quickly and has been eating pretty well. There's are lots of videos and advice on YouTube (some good and some not as helpful) - just Google "trimming a
tortoise beak."




View attachment 311962

 

[Sulcatachris]

Thank you for your advice.

 

[MenagerieGrl]

So, I have a question...What would contribute to this Beak Growth happening? I have Parrots and use Calcium Perches to give my kids something to work with to keep their beaks in perfect form. Would cuttlebone pieces help the Tort work on her/his own trimming? Or could this be partially a medical condition?

 

[Lauren Tilbury]

You can use a dremel tool and trim it. Or a toenail clipper, or a finger nail file. Or a Vet can do it easily

You have to be careful because he used to toenail clippers it can crack it down the middle like your own finger nail I had to take mine to the vet to get it done with the Dremel and she had a really overgrown week I think that’s easiest way to do it and then when you feed her put her on her food on like a hard stones that she Hass to kind a grind it down