Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My box turtle broke his lower jaw last year and now his upper jaw is starting to crack. Is there such a thing as trimming a turtles upper jaw? His upper jaw looks overgrown...I wish I had a camera, but i don't sorry. Do they regrow there jaws that is what I was told would happen, but so far it has been almost a year and it hasn't happened. He has the worst feeding habits we believe because of his past. He used to be addicted to just bananas and now he won't touch them...he will eat some mango, strawberries and sardines, worms are a challenge, but he will eat them too. Also he only eats every other day too is that normal? He refuses food when we have tried feeding him daily. He also has three legs we got him this way and have had him for about six years. He always looks dried out and does not like when we put any substrate in to help him burrow in and I have a heating pad underneath on low and a 60 watt basking light. He has a dish of water he can sit in and seems to like that. We have tried all kinds of substrate but he won't move when we put it in and moves away from it like we are torturing him or something so we take it out after a couple of days. He wasn't in the best of shape when we got him he had an eye infection and a vitamin defiency. I called on the dealer that we bought him from and reported him, but I didn't have the heart to return him so we have been doing the best we can for him. Sorry to have so much questions....I would be grateful for any replies.

Have you ever had him to a herp vet? THey can trim the beak (upper and lower) correctly for you. If you have him indoors, do you have a UVA/B light in his enclosure? Have you ever taken him out into real sunlight? It does wonders for perking them up.

If he appears to be overly dry you need to soak him longer, 20 minutes a day. PHRatz has something she adds to the soaking water of her turtles that help soothe the dry skin, can't remember what it was though. It is okay to feed him every other day, especially if you have an adult. What type of boxie do you have? Can you post a picture of him?

Mine like to eat while soaking. Some other food items to try: wax worms, mulberries, shredded squash, rolly pollie bugs, earthworms of various sizes (These you can cut up too). You might also look into buying some baby food jars of various orange, yellow, and green veggies as well as some fruits. WHen my ornate gets picky about food I just buy a jar of baby food mulberries and pour a little of that over what ever I want her to eat. Ever see a purple earthworm?

I have had him to a vet but not a herp vet I will look into it...do you know if there beak upper and lower grow back?? his lower is pretty broke and he cannot feed himself. I have a western box turt and I will try to post a pic I am a little techtarded much more into my animals and not tech. anyways I will try the foods he is picky and even turns his head when I offer him food!! We used to call him stumpy due to his three legs and renamed him booger because he is one about food. I have been thinking about an outdoor enclosure...I just don't know how big of an enclosure he would need. by the way thanks for the info. and I am babbling....

>>If he appears to be overly dry you need to soak him longer, 20 minutes a day. PHRatz has something she adds to the soaking water of her turtles that help soothe the dry skin, can't remember what it was though.

That was Stress Coat made for aquarium fish. I let them drink then add some of that to the bath water if needed.
Doesn't harm them, a lot of people use it for their pet frogs & hermit crabs too.

I watched an episode of ER Vets recently- they had a turtle in who'd lost it's lower jaw so they built a new one for it.
It worked.
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PHRatz

I will try the stress coat...thanks.

I saw the episode on the turtle with the broken jaw. I cannot find anyone in the Oregon area to do that. I am thinking of contacting the ER doc and seeing if he has any ideas. He has a website I think.

Yes, tutles beak do grow but whether your turtle's will depend on why it broke in the first place and the severity of the break-where it is broken and what foods he eats. He has to have bodily reserves to repair injuries. If his diet is bad-it leave little for repairs.

My first turtle was also sickly-didn't eat well, and was dried out all the time. I was afraid to put him outside because he was so sickly, but the best thing I ever did for him was get him outdoors in the warm sun and humidity. His skin got better, he wanted to eat more and ate better foods and was more interested in life around him. Sometime we hurt the thing we try to over protect.

Read up on making your turtle a predator-proof and escape-proof outdoor enclosure-- even a temporary outdoor pen does wonder. I have some pictures and instruction on my website: www.boxturtlesite.info/bxbook.html
Look under Housing.
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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

Thanks, I haven't gotten very far in almost a year with regrowth of the lower jaw it broke pretty far and I wasn't about to give up on him so I have been syringe feeding and using chop sticks. Until his recent disinterest except for strawberries, mangos and worms. I am definately looking into an outdoor enclosure. I live in oregon and it gets pretty cold so bringing him in in the winter is a good idea?? it can get in the thirties and below in the winter and the summers at least eithy and above. I have a friend that tried to winter her turt here and lost him. We have at least a good 6 if not 7 months out of the year though that he could stay outside. I let him go in the yard when I am outside with him since I don't use fertilizers or any chemicals on my plants--he thinks this is fabulous!!

The link to "Care of the Eggs" is broken.
Right now that is a needed link.