Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 2 baby Desert Tortoises about 8 months old and today when I went to clean their tank I noticed one of the babies was sort of gagging. Then when I looked closer I realized he had bubbles coming out of his nose. I have them in a 10 gal glass aquarium on paper towels with a heat lamp and I've had them like that since I got them. I feed mainly Romaine Lettuce and other assorted vegetables and fruits dusted with rep-cal pure calcium.

He was fine yesterday and ate and good and I dont know how he could've got sick.

He is the bigger of the 2 and the one I thought was always the healthiest.

Any advice or tips or anything would be greatly appreciated.

Tony, I never cared for aquariums as tortoise tanks, because they tend to offer little in choice for the captives, it is hard to establish a thermal gradient, they tend to be too warm... Something that works well for me for hatchlings are the concrete mixing tubs available at building supplies, they are light (unlike aquariums), easy to clean with rounded corners, affordable etc. Provide a heat source/uvb light at one end and the other end should be cooler, with shleters in both warm and cool ends. The bubbles may or may not be Upper respiratory infection, which is not good...you need Vet advice or someone who had been through it, luckily I have not. Maybe it was just food or liquid? Is it feeding vigorously and not otherwise depressed?

Good luck, don't let it go "down hill" before seeking help...Vic H.

Tony, the diet could be diversified to the tortoises benefit. Check out the California Turtle and Tortoise club web-site and/or the San Diego turtle and tortoise society web sites for food lists you may find helpful. If you live in California or somewhere not too cold and wet, consider growing some cacti and other tortoise foods for them. They do love dandelions, and chicory and so many things that have more nutrition than lettuce, but many folks would say should not be a staple diet, only a part. Best wishes, Vic H.