Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone tell me what the procedure for microchipping tortoises would be? would they have to be sedated? where in the body would the chip be placed? I'm worried about theft or possible escape and want to do what I can to ensure their return in such a case. I have 5 Sulcatas.

Also, does anyone happen to know the name of the book that was posted a long while back that was essentially the medical bible of tortoises and their anatomy? it was like $250.00 or so, but I can't remember the name.

Thanks,

Rick Grape

The transponders are "injected" with a syringe and needle, very similar to receiving any type of shot, except that the vaccine is replaced by the microchip. The needle is pushed through the skin, and then when the plunger of the syringe is pushed down, the microchip goes through the needle into the animal. The needles are fairly large in diameter, so oftentimes the site is then glued together again with a tissue glue, such as Vet-Bond (like super glue). In tortoises, the most common site for doing this seems to be in the rear leg sockets. In order to read the transponders, it is sometimes necessary to turn the tortoise on its side and place the reader very close to the leg socket, especially in older ones with thicker shells. I have observed this procedure many times at zoological institutions and none of the tortoises were ever sedated. I do not know how private vets feel about doing it without sedation, but sedating any living thing is always risky, and I would avoid it if at all possible. Humans aren't sedated to get injections, and this procedure is no worse than that.

I would suggest that the chips be placed in a limb because there are reports that chips place in or near the ceolomic cavity have migrated to a location where the reader could not pick them up.

The book you mention is Medicine and Surgery of Tortoises and Turtles by S.Mcarthur, R. Wilkinson and J. Meyer, Blackwell publishing.

Another 'must have' book is Reptile Medicine and Surgery by D. Mader, Saunders press

>>Can anyone tell me what the procedure for microchipping tortoises would be? would they have to be sedated? where in the body would the chip be placed? I'm worried about theft or possible escape and want to do what I can to ensure their return in such a case. I have 5 Sulcatas.
>>
>>Also, does anyone happen to know the name of the book that was posted a long while back that was essentially the medical bible of tortoises and their anatomy? it was like $250.00 or so, but I can't remember the name.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Rick Grape
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

totally agreed on both topics. the limb is a must. also Mader's book is out of this world!!!

Hunter

The left thigh is kind of becoming the unwritten rule for chip placement in tortoises. Perhaps similar to the tattoo being in the left ear of a dog. On a quick note, it is just a microchip, not a transponder. It doesn't have a power source or send out a signal.

While sedation wouldn't be necessary for the average tortoise, it is a large gauge needle. The decision would have to be made on a case by case basis, with smaller animals being more affected by this minor/major trauma.

Ian