Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Was wondering if anyone has suggestions for trimming a Tortoise's mouth/beak. I will probably have a reptile vet do it, but was curious if anyone does it themself. Thanks.

P.S. I used to have a website called: dansgeckos.com. You may have seen it a few years ago...

All you need is an emery board and a cooperative Russian. You, of course, will operate the emery board and you have the Russian carefully secure the tortoise. (sorry, couldn't resist).
using the emeryboard in one hand and grasping the head of the tortoise you can usually file away the excess keritin. Once again, this is real easy if you get the tortoises trust. Once you get it down, try to provide some kind of abrasive to keep it down. (grass, cuttlebone, whole carrot...)
Ed

[QUOTE: All you need is an emery board and a cooperative Russian. You, of course, will operate the emery board and you have the Russian carefully secure the tortoise. (sorry, couldn't resist).]

LOL. I can operate an emery board, but finding a cooperative Russian is going to be difficult.

I've been trying to get my tortoises to like cuttlebone, but they aren't interested. I offer carrots, which seem to help. I'll have to camouflage the cuttlebone with some veggies and see what happens. Thanks for the advice!

Feed them on a piece of rough slate. You can purchase them at Home Depot for less than a buck. Files their beak down naturally. 9 torts (including 4 Russian's) and no overgrown beaks.

BTW, keep it clean as they like to eliminate on it during and after eating.

Ernie

[QUOTE] Feed them on a piece of rough slate. You can purchase them at Home Depot for less than a buck. Files their beak down naturally. 9 torts (including 4 Russian's) and no overgrown beaks.

BTW, keep it clean as they like to eliminate on it during and after eating.

Ernie
[QUOTE]

Thanks, I may try feeding them on slate. That's another good idea.

I would definatly try feeding on the slate/some kind of abrasive rock.. In my russian tortoise enclosure I have large flat stones that my house was made out of for her to bask and eat on, and it seems to be working great. The way i see it, they'd naturally trim it down on rocks and whatnot in the wild.. im sure they dont have emery boards out there and as for a cooperative russian, make sure he's got plenty of vodka hehe Take care, and hope all works nicely for you.

Sincerely,
Charlie Ashley
p.s- the picture is in a old temp. rubbermaid enclosure, not the nice new one

..
..