Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am taking care of 4 Russians (they aren't mine, long story). As with most Russians, they arrived in a pet store loaded with parasites. They have had 2 doses of Panacur with 3 weeks between doses. Right now, they are all being kept in a 3x2 foot plastic box (no lid and dry climate) with aspen chips. Because they are sick I am trying to keep their temp up, but they do have room to regulate (about 77-95). Two of the torts are bright eyed and eating like pigs, but the other two hardly ever open their eyes, won't eat, and they have that problem where they can't pull their legs into their shell. Our local herp vet (who happens to suck, another long story) says that they should perk up eventually. Have any of you had this problem? If so, was it treatable? Would it be kinder to just have the two sick ones put down? I would appreciate any suggestions. I have never dealt with this before so I am at a loss. Thanks!
-----
our doubts are traitors
and make us lose the good
we oft might find
by fearing to attempt

Let me first say "Thank you" for your efforts to help these little guys out!
Now the panacur should of taken care of most internal parisite. The two, that are not doing so well, how is their breathing. Is their noses and eyes clean, or are they full of gunk (tech tearm)? If the answer is yes to the full of gunk, then I would get a new vet. The may need to be put on some meds. Are they all eating well? Can you separate the 2 that are not doing well from the others? They may be getting even more stressed from the activity of they 2 that are comming around. Also if they are sick and they other 2 are not, this will help to keep the heathier 2 from getting what ever they may have.
Don't give up on the 2 sick ones yet! Tortoies are very slow to heal. Just make sure the stay warm and well hidrated. Give them each thier own bath every other day.
Good luck and are these guys going to be yours?

The sick ones won't eat, and that is what has me the most worried. And their eyes and noses don't seem gunky at all. They both just kind of lay there and they only move around when they are looking for a place to rest. They do everything with their eyes closed. The only time they open them is when I soak them, and they don't keep them open for very long. It seems like the parasites made them so sick that they are having a very difficult time bouncing back from it. How can I get them to eat?

I don't think these little guys will end up being mine. I have enough critters as it is (a leopard tort, leopard gex, cats, frogs, savannah monitor, to name a few). I do know of a few cool people who will give them good homes once they are better though. Thanks for the info! I'll keep you posted!
-----
our doubts are traitors
and make us lose the good
we oft might find
by fearing to attempt

You might want to increase the humidity in the enclosure also. I had a Russian that could not open it's eyes and it was caused from to dry of enclosure.

Hope this helps,

Kelly wood

increasing the humidity is a good idea but not in the entire enclosure. I'd suggest a humid hide area and make sure it is warm also.
Ed

I do not think a humid hide is a good idea. I just went through some bad russian imports (also long story) and besides parasites the #1 problem with them was shell rot. It is caused by a highly contagous bacteria that gets in under the shell covering and thrives in an anaerobic environment. It is also unbeleivably hard to detect until it is too late. Moisture will make shell rot more likeley and , if they already have it, worse.

Examine the shell very very closely, press the scutes on the underside. Look for pockets or discolored scutes. If you suspect an area you can use a sterile pin to open up a very small area, like popping a blister, if pus comes out you have shell rot.

They can have this problem anywhere on the shell, but most commonly starts underneath. If you find pus under the shell agresive treatment is required because systemic infection is likely.

I had 2 russians with shell rot that remained undetected, despite my constant shell examinations for 3 weeks. By the time I could see the shell rot, one was already septic. They both seemed fine before the shell rot was discovered, out of 4 imports that I recieved 2 died of shell rot, one recovered, and one was never afected.

I'm not trying to scare you, just trying to give you a heads up.
Hope my exp. helps in some way.

Kisha

I've seen Russians literally come back from the brink of death, so keep working with them. Warmth and healthful food should bring them out of it eventually. And if you can give them access to natural sunlight, that will help them alot.