I got my tort last night!

[TJRodolph]

I didn't get a Hermann's OR a Russian...I got a greek, it's an adult female, so cute, a little shy though. haven't come up with a name yet though. I'm going to attempt to post a pic here. ok, couldn't figure out how to attach pics.

[prism_wolf]

For posting pics:
http://www.thereptilefile.com/forum/index.php?topic=149.0

I use photobucket once in awhile for my photohosting, but I prefer http://imageshack.us . It has the nifty thumbnail option to keep the bandwidth down and speed up page loading...especially when some of us still know what dial-up feels like...;) If anyone wants a larger image...just click on it and voila!

[TJRodolph]

Thanks!

[prism_wolf]

You're welcome. We expect pictures directly!! ;) ;D

[TJRodolph]

http://http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/2039/hpim0392tu5.th.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim0392tu5.jpg)

[prism_wolf]

Before you hit the "Post" button...click "Preview" and you'll see anything that needs tweaking before it gets posted. You can edit at your leisure this way. Once you think you have fixed...or even just need to proof read it again...hit "Preview" again until you get it the way you want it. It won't erase what's already there...even though it flickers and makes you think it will. It's just refreshing with the new information.

Instead of using the "Insert Image" button above the open post window you will need to copy and paste the code from the photo hosting site itself.

Which photo hosting site are you using?

[dana51581]

was this what you were trying to post?

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/2039/hpim0392tu5.th.jpg

[TJRodolph]

HEY! Yea! How did you do that? I'm not super computer smart. lol But that is my tort. I have since changed some of the substrate as it had too much sand in it. I added more bed-a-beast.

Question....yesterday I gave her a bath, and it was too deep, went over her head. I took her out quickly and lowered the water level. But since then she has been blowing bubbles out of her nose. I figured it was just her getting that dunk water out of her nose. Well this morning she has a little water drainage and making that sneeze or hiss noise. Is this something to worry about or is she still trying to clear her nose from the dunk? I ask cuz I am worried about those respiratory problems since her cage is in the basement and the bed-a-beast is fresh so probably not as dry as it could be.

[rwagoner]

Since your using imageshack you don't need to click the image button. Imageshack gives you a small thumbnail so they provide the code with the link and image. You just need to copy paste. Should look like the below when your creating a post.

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/2039/hpim0392tu5.th.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim0392tu5.jpg)

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/2039/hpim0392tu5.th.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim0392tu5.jpg)

[TJRodolph]

Ok, thanks. Next time I try to post a pic I will try that and hope it works.

[c1rc4]

Cute turtle from what I can see :)

[prism_wolf]

Question....yesterday I gave her a bath, and it was too deep, went over her head. I took her out quickly and lowered the water level. But since then she has been blowing bubbles out of her nose. I figured it was just her getting that dunk water out of her nose. Well this morning she has a little water drainage and making that sneeze or hiss noise. Is this something to worry about or is she still trying to clear her nose from the dunk? I ask cuz I am worried about those respiratory problems since her cage is in the basement and the bed-a-beast is fresh so probably not as dry as it could be.


You may need to keep a close eye on her. A URI (upper respiratory infection) can happen very easily in torts. She's not a water turtle so should only have a bath in very shallow water...say just enough to go over her feet. The fact that she is still blowing bubbles and is now wheezing the next day...if she is still doing this tomorrow...Monday first thing you will want her in for checkup by a herp vet. It's an easy fix if caught soon enough.

[TJRodolph]

Do you think she came with this URI when I bought her since I just got her Thurs nite? How quickly can a tort get URI? Does it just happen overnight?

She has a herp vet appt this afternoon.

[snakewrangler]

Where did you get the tortoise? Is it CB?

[prism_wolf]

It's possible she already had it, but even if she didn't...once water gets in the lungs it settles in VERY quickly. The water doesn't go away. They can't cough it out the way we do. Let us know what the vet says! I do hope she recovers quickly... :-\

[TJRodolph]

Ok, so its possible I did this to her by putting her in water too deep, even though it was just for a second. I know better now! Oh, and she still won't eat anything, not even the dandelions. I'll keep you posted.

[prism_wolf]

What kind of lighting do you have her under? Heat and UVB, please... 8). And what are her temps?

[TJRodolph]

I've got an 8 Reptisun UVB tube along the entire top of the cage, and then I have a 100W basking lamp hanging inside the cage corner probably about 10 inches from the substrate, and a 100W basking lamp sitting on top of the cage in the middle, so the far left side has no heat. The cage is a large rabbit cage.

[snakewrangler]

You have mentioned that the cage is in the basement. Greek Tortoises are from dry climates, and humidity that is above 30-50% will cause an RI.

If your basement is damp like most peoples', this could be the cause of the RI. Sure, the tortoise could have had the RI when you got it, but damp conditions may aggravate the situation.

Get a digital hygrometer from Home Depot and check out your basement. I have a digital thermometer/hygrometer in my reptile room and it helps out a lot. You may have to move the cage to a drier area.

[prism_wolf]

Do you know what the temps are? This is something you can't guess at...especially if now that she needs to get well. Just adding a heat light isn't enough. The basking area should be 90-95 degrees. The cool end and nighttime should be about 10-15 degrees cooler, but while she's rehabbing...keep them up about 5 degrees hotter than usual. Basking area should remain the same. Keep the enclosure VERY dry.

Here's an excellent care page on Greek tort care:
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/tiberagoldengreekcare.htm

Note in the housing section what it says about getting a URI.

If it is a URI aggressive treatment can make all the difference...and you are taking care of that possibility with the vet. If you don't have a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer/hygrometer, get one now...get two. One to put the probe in the basking area and one to put the probe in the cool end. This way all you need to do is mount them on the wall and do a quick check of the temps.

[TJRodolph]

Nope, don't have the temp gages yet, I have been to a pet store at least 3 or 4 times in the past weekend and keep forgetting to grab some! I will for sure get some today. I've been seeing posts that Walmart has a good one for fairly cheap. I need some for my new bearded dragon too.

Thanks for that link, I will print it out and keep it by the cage for reference.

[snakewrangler]

TJR- You will always get a better deal at Wal-Mart or Home Depot than you will at a pet store.

I buy all of my plastic tubs, basking lamps, fixtures, aquarium lights, thermometers, cypress mulch, etc. at those stores. Just shop around, you'll save a ton of $

[TJRodolph]

What do you use the cypress mulch for?

I did go to home depot for the tiles for my beardies tank. They have basking lights at home depot and walmart? How do I know which ones are which since they obviously won't say "REPTILE BULBS" on them. lol

[prism_wolf]

All basking lights are used for is heat...the same heat that comes from the cheaper house bulbs... ;D. I get very little from pet stores. They are sometimes twice what it costs in a store like Wal-Mart. Even fake plants I get from places like the Dollar Tree. The UV lights still need to come from the reptile supply store...whether online or actual store, but heat lights...you can get those anywhere! All of my thermometers come from Wal-Mart.

[snakewrangler]

I use cypress mulch for my tegus and for my tropical geckos.

As far as basking bulbs are concerned, you just need to experiment with a few different types. I can provide a basking site of 110 for my savannah monitor using a 45w bulb. Invest in an infrared temp gun. They are about $20-25 and give you an accurate readout instantly. You really can't be guessing with your temperatures.

[snakewrangler]

I get my plastic crock bowls from the dollar store too. My smaller ones come from the grocery store and usually run about 70 cents.

[TJRodolph]

so a regular old house light buld will work? Thats what I'll be buying next time then. The UVB lights cost me like $28 each....and last 6 months right?

Where can I get that infrared temp gun? I think I would like that better.

[prism_wolf]

I got my temp gun from http://www.tempgun.com

Without a UVB meter to test the UVB...yes...6 months.

[TJRodolph]

Thanks for that link, I just ordered my own tempgun. Makes more sense since I have multiple tanks to check the temps of.

[prism_wolf]

Keep in mind those are only good for spot checking and double checking the surface temps. These are not good for checking air temps. You still need thermometers in the necessary spots... :).

[TJRodolph]

I read an article about Greek Torts and it recommends using grass hay as the substrate as it does not hold humidity. They need a very low humidty level around 30 to 50%, not like the other torts. Plus, they like to burrow under the substrate rather than just hide under something.

Being that I keep the tort in my bedroom in the basement, I think this might be the best option for me. I'm going to get rid of the sand/bed-a-beast mixture for now and see how she does with the hay. I suppose timothy hay would work good. I'll double check with the vet when we go today.

[prism_wolf]

That sounds like a good plan. Eventually you'll need more floor space, too...but you have some time to build an insulated floor with a cheapo frame...:-)

[TJRodolph]

Oh yea, I got a kid in highschool that likes to work with his hands and said he would build me a tort table. :-) (one with legs so its not on the floor). I want a 2 level one, with a ramp so she has more room to roam.

I just dropped her off at the vet over lunch hour today, and low and behold when I opened the box at the clinic....she had left a little poo! Now the vet can do a fecal check too. I don't know what she poo'd, as she hasn't eaten since I got her Thurs night. I had to leave her there as the vet has to squeeze her in, and then we'll go pick her up after work with her recommendations. I left a very detailed summary of whats going on.

[prism_wolf]

That's great news! We'll be waiting to hear the details!

[TJRodolph]

The vet said my Sophie definitely had a URI.....and after doing the fecal test, determined she had a parasite. Both easily fixed. She gave her drops for her eyes and nose to use for a week...and gave her a dewormer which I have to repeat in 2 weeks. Oh......and Sophie is now named Leonardo!!!! It's a boy! LOL

She also said using timothy hay was just fine for the substrate. So I just cleaned out HIS cage and he buried right under. Hopefully he will eat soon, otherwise the vet gave me some stuff to mix with water and will have to feed him with a syringe.

I feel much better now. Thanks for all the help and info you guys gave me!

[c1rc4]

Best of luck with him. Glad you were able to take the advice and spend the money on the vet. Once he is past the sickness, some new photos would be nice. Don't stress him too much, as you already have to give him the drops. Make sure to monitor food intake and hopefully he starts eating soon.

[prism_wolf]

Good to here he is on the right meds now. While he's on both meds...even with just one you would need to do this...but offer him a probiotic in the syringe, as well. The meds will be killing off the microflora needed in digesting his food. Offer it everyday along with the meds. This stuff is harmless, and it adds back what the meds kill off...especially the one that kills off internal parasites.

1. Nutribac - specifically for herps
2. Benebac - Made for birds - approved for reptiles
3. Nature Zone Essential Probiotics - specifically for reptiles
4. Acidophilus Tablets (crushed) - Human health food store.

Any one of those four will do the trick. Use it the entire duration
of the parasite treatment. I keep all my guys on a maintenance
program by using it at least once a month. It's harmless and will
keep everything running smoother.I believe you can get NutriBac
or BeneBac at PetCo. Its in the bird care section. I use a product
called NatureZone, and you can buy that online at Big Apple
Herpetological - http://www.bigappleherp.com .

[TJRodolph]

Hey thanks, I will stop at Petco after work.

[snakewrangler]

you may not be able to find all of that at a pet store.

[TJRodolph]

I think I only need to one of those, right?

[prism_wolf]

Nutribac and Benebac you can. That's why I listed those in the post... ;)

Yes...you only need one. I use Nutribac - contrary what I said. This was a copy and paste from another post...another forum. I copy and pasted this into a notepad so instead of typing out over and over the same answers for people...the answer is saved and all I have to do is copy and paste it when the situation comes up again...and it always does... ;D.

[TJRodolph]

I gotcha. I'm just going to order off that website you listed.

[snakewrangler]

I recommend a good book while you are ordering.

[TJRodolph]

I did get a book from the library...Turtles and Tortoises for Dummys. I've been doing a lot of reading online and in forums, and talked to vets. There is a lot of differing options and opinions out there. It's good to have options to try and see what works best individually.

Thanks for everyones advice!!