Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this issue?
Can the lower portion of the beak be trimmed also?If so, how is it done?

I just acquired a pair of Leopard adults and the male and female are light as heck(weights) and the female can't even bite through a bannana peel(I dont feed my torts much fruit but I wanted to giver her something I knew she would try to eat right away). She also seems to have a problem swallowing. I also put some squash in her pen and she had the same piece in he mouth for over 15 minutes while trying to eat it.

I contacted the seller already but he seems to think they are perfect and basically said I am SOL. I am taking them to my vet tomorrow.

The main issue is just getting her to be able to eat if I dont get my refund.I think I am stuck with them.

Thanks for your input.
Scott

PS
I have various species of torts but never came across this issue before.

The odds of you saving them this time of year are very slim considering the condition you describe.

I'd suggest you pass the name of the person around. In as small a community as the tortoise world is that should shut them down pretty quick.

>>I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this issue?
>>Can the lower portion of the beak be trimmed also?If so, how is it done?
>>
>>I just acquired a pair of Leopard adults and the male and female are light as heck(weights) and the female can't even bite through a bannana peel(I dont feed my torts much fruit but I wanted to giver her something I knew she would try to eat right away). She also seems to have a problem swallowing. I also put some squash in her pen and she had the same piece in he mouth for over 15 minutes while trying to eat it.
>>
>>I contacted the seller already but he seems to think they are perfect and basically said I am SOL. I am taking them to my vet tomorrow.
>>
>>The main issue is just getting her to be able to eat if I dont get my refund.I think I am stuck with them.
>>
>>Thanks for your input.
>>Scott
>>
>>PS
>>I have various species of torts but never came across this issue before.
>>
>>
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

After providing him with a report from the vet, there will be no denying this was an ongoing issue.
Then we will see if he does the stand up thing.

I always give people a fair opportunity to make good.

Hopefully this will be resolved tomorrow.

PS
I live in S Florida so I am fortunate that I can keep them outside almost year round in natural sunlight.

Thanks for your input,

Scott

Nice attitude and you are probably the only place where they might have a chance.

The best of luck to ya.

>>After providing him with a report from the vet, there will be no denying this was an ongoing issue.
>>Then we will see if he does the stand up thing.
>>
>>I always give people a fair opportunity to make good.
>>
>>Hopefully this will be resolved tomorrow.
>>
>>PS
>>I live in S Florida so I am fortunate that I can keep them outside almost year round in natural sunlight.
>>
>>Thanks for your input,
>>
>>Scott
>>
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

and it really is very sad. We (well, everyone on the torts forum at least) work with reptiles because we love to work with them, not because we're trying to make a quick buck. But there is always going to be the sellers that only care about instant gratification (getting money), and they are the ones that will rip people off with poor quality animals.

You're in a good place to try to bring them back. Keep them as well hydrated as you can, and make sure they have nice hot areas to bask in. With the stress from moving, the odds are against you already, so try not to mess with them more than you have to. I've had animals that were literally on the brink of death (a uromastyx I rescued, and also a bearded dragon I aquired in a situation that's very similar to your own). Both were at the point where their internal organs were starting to shut down. The bearded dragon had text book blood levels of kidney disease, and the uromastyx was having secondary liver failure.

Both are still around. The uro has been with me for 3 years and the dragon for about 5, and both are about as normal as you could expect them to be, with all they've been through.

So don't give up hope. Just try your hardest to bring them back.

Thanks for your kind words. Greatly appreciated.
I have been communicating with the seller regarding the tortoises and he does seem concerned, but not enough to give me a refund.I actually took them to the vet today and $275.00 later found out they both have nemotodes and the female has major absesses in her mouth! I feel so bad for her.Now I know why she couldnt swallow that squash. The smell from the infection was putrid and it looked like she was eating cottage cheese.
She is now on injectible antibiotics and I had a culture done.
He also confirmed the problem with the jaw but that could be due to the swelling inside her mouth.
All I can do is state the facts and hope for the best.
It just sucks that whenever I sell something, it is always thriving and 100% healthy. Whenever I buy something it always seems to be the opposite.
I will keep you updated,

Scott

By all means keep the tortoises from any of your other tortoises if you have any.

The description you give of the mouth might be Herpes virus. See if you can have the vet check for that. I haven't heard of the virus in Leopards but I wouldn't be surprised if it was.

>>Thanks for your kind words. Greatly appreciated.
>>I have been communicating with the seller regarding the tortoises and he does seem concerned, but not enough to give me a refund.I actually took them to the vet today and $275.00 later found out they both have nemotodes and the female has major absesses in her mouth! I feel so bad for her.Now I know why she couldnt swallow that squash. The smell from the infection was putrid and it looked like she was eating cottage cheese.
>>She is now on injectible antibiotics and I had a culture done.
>>He also confirmed the problem with the jaw but that could be due to the swelling inside her mouth.
>>All I can do is state the facts and hope for the best.
>>It just sucks that whenever I sell something, it is always thriving and 100% healthy. Whenever I buy something it always seems to be the opposite.
>>I will keep you updated,
>>
>>Scott
-----
Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care