Poorly tortoise!

[daisynricco]

Hi I've only had my two torts for around 3 months now! ( and I love them to bits!) but they have already suffered with runny nose syndrome I took them to the vets n got them sorted they seemed better than ever but recently I've noticed they both have a slight discharge from their nose again?!? but they are acting fine and eating like little pigs, nothing like how they acted before.... Does anyone know what to do should I take them back to the vets or because they act ok leave it?! Please help xxxxxx

 

[Laura]

what kind of torts?
and then tell us thier life story... ages, where they live, describe thier enclosure, temps, diet...

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Sounds like they might be too cold. A healthy Russian tortoise needs ambient daytime temperatures in the 70s to low 80s, and a basking spot temperature of 95-100*F. They also prefer nighttime temps in the 60s, but 70s is okay. If your torts are not getting these conditions, that could be the reason they are getting sick.

Once they are sick, they actually require generally higher temperatures than when they are healthy, i.e. ambient temps in the 80s, hot spot at about 100, and nighttime temps in the 70s. This may allow them to beat the virus or bacterium causing their runny nose.

A healthy Russian does fine with low ambient humidity, as long as it has a moist substrate to burrow into if it wants. However, a sick tortoise would benefit from higher humidity than normal.

Also, how big is their enclosure? What are you feeding them? What is the substrate, and does it provide a humid microclimate? If these environmental and dietary variables are not right, then that could explain why they keep getting sick.

Turtles can recover from a runny nose with home therapy, but if they do not, then another trip to the vet might be warranted.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi daisynricco:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

What would you like us to call you?

and may we know where in the world you are?

Take a minute to think about what happens when you take your tortoise to the vet...he gets to hold the tortoise and look at him, check his eyes, check his breathing. The vet is able to ask you questions.

You can't expect us to be able to help you without a bit of information. We're coming at the problem blind, so to speak. We need to know much, much more about the tortoises and where they live.

 

[wellington]

Hello and WELCOME Hope all is well with your torts.

 

[ascott]

Do you maintain high humidity with their enclosure? What isa the lowestother temp youit allow theirthe enclosure toto be maintainedthe at? Where did you obtain them from? Pet shop or private breeder? Are they wild caught or are they captive bred/born? If wild caught have you had them checked to make sure their parasite load is not bad?

 

[tortadise]

Welcome. Sounds like a respiratory infection to me. Warm them up and increase humidity. Keep them 80 minimum cold spot and basking 100 to at least a month. RI don't happen over night so needs to be addresses long term treatment. But more info is required as all others have asked.