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| I know I have seen on this forum there are a few people with tortoises so if any one has experience can you give me some suggestions?
This whole tortoise adventure has been a bummer. I just got him on the 4th. The website said he was to come from Texas and they shipped him from Florida. He was not marked as "live animal" and his box was completely smashed. I have tried to contact the seller both my email and phone with no response. When I call they ask if they can put me on hold to get someone to help and then they hang up!
He seemed healthy when I got him but has been deteriorating in the last few days. His one eye has not been opening on it's own for the last several days. I thought maybe he had something in it so I have been gently soaking it with a q-tip until he opens it. He has not eaten for the last two days and is really lethargic.
I have been doing some reading on the web and on tortoise forums but everyone with this issue has been referred to vet care. I tried to get an appointment but our vets don't see tortoises, small town clinic.
Is there anyone who can help me? |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Hopefully Tiff sees this, she has a whole pile of tortoises. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 336
Location: Missouri | I sent Tiff a message on FB - hopefully she can help! |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| dianea - 2014-01-22 12:45 PM
I sent Tiff a message on FB - hopefully she can help!
Thanks ladies! I really appreciate it! |
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | If you want to call me it would be easier to help. I need more information. Where are you located? Depending on where you are, he should have NEVER been shipped this time of year.
What breed, how old, what are you feeding, how often, what kind of pen, what kind of subtrate, what kind of heating element?
It sounds like he got way too cold. The best thing for that is literally take him in the shower with you. HOT shower, steam will hydrate him and warm him up. If he is cold and dehydrated he will not eat, and his eyes will cake shut. Just putting him under a heater won't help, he needs hot moisture.
I'll be leaving here in a few minutes to take a dog to the vet and won't have cell service for a good part of the day, but if you want to call me later my cell is 912-432-8019. Are you on my facebook? Tiff Josh Robinson. Look me up if you aren't. I can probably message while at the vet just not talk on the phone. I'll keep an eye on this thread as well if you want to add more information about him. SHAME on the sellers for not helping you. That's totally uncalled for. |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | Also, soak him in WARM water, not hot water it will shock him, but warm water. Not too deep since he's ill, just depends on size, water should come up above the bottom of his shell a little bit but should not be over his head. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | sure hope your little guy gets to feeling better........
m |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| How is your little guy now? I always have a huge soft spot for turtles and tortoises! I really hope he pulls through. missrosalee's buddy got chewed up by a dog and I was always asking her for updates! Plenty of us out there rooting for yours! |
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Posts: 215
Location: The money window | 
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Oh no prayers for the little fella |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | OP and I spoke quite a bit on facebook. I know she is in Cali and didn't get off work until 4 or so. Hoping the lil guy is feeling better tonight too!!! |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | Just a quick pic I snapped today of one of mine.
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 tortt.jpg (73KB - 250 downloads)
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | missroselee - 2014-01-22 9:49 PM
Just a quick pic I snapped today of one of mine.
What a cool house he has  |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | Southtxponygirl - 2014-01-22 10:53 PM missroselee - 2014-01-22 9:49 PM Just a quick pic I snapped today of one of mine.
What a cool house he has
Thanks! I just built that in there for them today. I have to do another one though because there's four of them in there now
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | missroselee - 2014-01-22 10:00 PM Southtxponygirl - 2014-01-22 10:53 PM missroselee - 2014-01-22 9:49 PM Just a quick pic I snapped today of one of mine.
What a cool house he has
Did they dig out the dirt themselves? I see that theres fresh looking dirt by his front door. Maybe they are moving things around in there. LOL... |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | Southtxponygirl - 2014-01-22 11:11 PM missroselee - 2014-01-22 10:00 PM Southtxponygirl - 2014-01-22 10:53 PM missroselee - 2014-01-22 9:49 PM Just a quick pic I snapped today of one of mine.
What a cool house he has
No, I just changed out all the subtrate today. So it all looks fresh for about 30 seconds :) |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| OP where are you in Cali? Is your tortoise doing any better? I used to work for an exotic animal vet back in the day and can refer you to several, but they are all in SoCal. One used to do phone consultations but I'm not so sure anymore. I'm sure I can get referrals for you in other areas of California if you need them. |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| Thanks everyone for your concerns!
With Missroselee's wonderful advice Smash is doing 300% better already! He was soaked twice, showered once and warmed up. He is opening both eyes, was extremely active last night and had his regular healthy appetite back!
Thank you so much Missroselee! I would have never thought of putting a tortoise in the shower!
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Oh yay!!!! This is GREAT news!!!!!! Ya'll are making me want a tortoise so badly!!!!  |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Awsome news  |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| RodeoCowgirl4u - 2014-01-22 10:58 PM
OP where are you in Cali? Is your tortoise doing any better? I used to work for an exotic animal vet back in the day and can refer you to several, but they are all in SoCal. One used to do phone consultations but I'm not so sure anymore. I'm sure I can get referrals for you in other areas of California if you need them.
I'm in the Northern end of the Owen's Valley, about 45 minutes from Mammoth Mtn. |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | I love stories like this! |
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 Roan Wonder
Location: SW MO |  This thread just makes me happy |
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 Thread Killer
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You and me both! |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Do you have any pictures of your little friend, would love to see him/she  |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| I don't except for the first day I brought him home. I will get some tonight and post them though. He's my first tortoise but I think I will most likely have one for ever now! He makes my bad days better when he's all tucked away in his shell and I pick him up and he pokes his little head out to see me and get his chin rubbed!
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Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Just Plain Lucky - 2014-01-23 11:26 AM
You and me both!
Me three! |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | cyount2009 - 2014-01-23 12:19 PM I don't except for the first day I brought him home. I will get some tonight and post them though. He's my first tortoise but I think I will most likely have one for ever now! He makes my bad days better when he's all tucked away in his shell and I pick him up and he pokes his little head out to see me and get his chin rubbed!
Awwwww that so sweet |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | cyount2009 - 2014-01-23 10:25 AM Thanks everyone for your concerns! With Missroselee's wonderful advice Smash is doing 300% better already! He was soaked twice, showered once and warmed up. He is opening both eyes, was extremely active last night and had his regular healthy appetite back! Thank you so much Missroselee! I would have never thought of putting a tortoise in the shower!
So glad to hear this!!! You should have seen my reaction when a vet told me to take a tortoise in the shower. Two years ago my yellow foot got out of his pen twice. The house temps were 62 degrees and he was very young, and got really cold. When they get cold they get dehydrated really really fast. They don't only drink a lot of water, they absorb it as well. Hence the first thing we try when we have symptoms like your guy is to warm them up fast with moisture, and steam is the best way :) |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | cyount2009 - 2014-01-23 1:19 PM I don't except for the first day I brought him home. I will get some tonight and post them though. He's my first tortoise but I think I will most likely have one for ever now! He makes my bad days better when he's all tucked away in his shell and I pick him up and he pokes his little head out to see me and get his chin rubbed!
One of the first things that surprise new tortoise owners is just how much personality they have. Wait until you have had him long enough that he comes hunting you every time he hears your voice :) Now of course it's food related but still, they get to know individual ppl. |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| missroselee - 2014-01-23 2:11 PM
cyount2009 - 2014-01-23 1:19 PM I don't except for the first day I brought him home. I will get some tonight and post them though. He's my first tortoise but I think I will most likely have one for ever now! He makes my bad days better when he's all tucked away in his shell and I pick him up and he pokes his little head out to see me and get his chin rubbed!
One of the first things that surprise new tortoise owners is just how much personality they have. Wait until you have had him long enough that he comes hunting you every time he hears your voice :) Now of course it's food related but still, they get to know individual ppl.
I didn't realize it! He is so neat. Some days I think he's as happy to see me as my dogs are! LOL |
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