Tortoises are excellent pets and it’s only right to feel a little concern if you find your tortoise might not be in perfect health, but is it a natural process when a tortoise’s shell peels or is something more sinister going on? “My tortoise shell is peeling” – Should I be worried? A tortoise regularly …
“My Tortoise Shell Is Peeling” – Should You Worry? Read More »
The safest kinds of pest control around pet tortoises are organic methods such as worms, bacteria, oil sprays, insecticidal soaps, pheromones and floating covers. Chemical pest control methods are dangerous to tortoises and other pets. They can get them sick, or worse, be fatal.
The common reasons for your tortoise’s shell to go soft are vitamin deficiencies, metabolic bone disease, and shell rot. Some tortoise species, as well as very young tortoises, have naturally softer shells so it is not caused by any illness or disease.
Tortoises need to soak twice a week or so to help them stay hydrated and clean. This keeps them strong and healthy, avoiding getting sick from dehydration or bacteria that can build up on their body. Tortoises also need to soak so that the shell and the skin do not crack from dryness.
During hibernation inspect your tortoise for signs of illness, signs of urination (in which case she needs to be soaked to avoid dehydration), monitor the temperature and humidity in the hibernation space every day, and monitor the weight of the tortoise on a weekly basis.
The common reasons a tortoise won’t open its eyes are vitamin A deficiencies, post-hibernation anorexia, third eyelid problems, trapped plant matter, infection of the eyelids, and an abscess. Some tortoises have a tendency to keep their eyes closed longer than normal so if your veterinarian rules out all issues, it’s nothing to worry about.
Tortoises can freeze to death. A tortoise is a cold-blooded animal and in the wild, they tend to hibernate through winter to avoid extreme cold. However, if the temperature drops too low for too long, whether or not the tortoise is in hibernation, it can freeze to death.
Tortoises and rabbit cannot live safely together. While rabbits are social creatures that love to have others around, tortoises are fine by themselves. Tortoises can get sick from eating rabbit food, and rabbits can get sick from the bacteria carried by tortoises. Rabbits will gnaw on just about anything, possibly even tortoises.
Tortoises can die of stress, though it is a fairly rare occurrence. All animals, including tortoises, can become stressed and the symptoms of stress can cause issues with both motivation and the immune system. If a pet tortoise is stressed for long enough it may become sick which can lead to its death.
What to do if your tortoise if foaming at the mouth: Immediately check the temperature in their enclosure and basking area and correct as needed, Separate out the sick tortoise if there are others, Keep her and her home clean, Check if she’s eating (a healthy appetite is a great sign), Talk to a vet as soon as possible.