Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi i am new in this forum. I am going to give all the information so i can hopefully get good advice. I have never owned a turtle or tortoise in my life which isn't much time since i am only 15. Ok well yesterday i went to my local petstore and was looking around at the animals when i noticed a baby sulcata had part of its face bitten off including one of his eyes. I ask one of the workers what happened and he said that there was a box turtle in with it that bit it. He showed me the box turtle and it was 2 times bigger than the sulcata. At this point i was getting mad at the store and really getting mad at the owner who i always didn't like. When i asked the owner what he was going to do to help it he said that it would be fine. After he said this i started talking to my friend that worked there and he said i could have it for 20 since he knew the owner wouldn't help it. So with out question i bought it don't worry though i knew a lot about sulcatas before buying it. What is really important though is what should i do about his face. his lower jaw is but some of his upper jaw is gone and like i said so is one of his eyes. also his other eye won't open an i have no idea why. i don't think it won't open because of nerve damage. Well when my grandma lets me borrow her digital camera i will get a picture up and the vet will hopefully have something good to say.

1 bearded dragon,1 green iguana, 2 leopard geckos, 1 sulcata tortoise

awww. geez. if i were you, i'd take it to the vet. it will cost you anywhere between 30 and 50 bucks though. it seems like the tortoise really needs to see one. might need some sort of antibiotic cream.

You might also want to see if there is a reptile rescue in your area that could give you advice. They deal with traumatic injuries often and might be able to help you out.
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

ugh... preventable tragedies like this piss me off.

what's nice, though, is that you took him in and can possibly give him a full life. like the other repliers said, he really needs to see a vet or possibly a reptile rescue type place if there's one in your area.

is he able to eat? you mentioned possible nerve damage; can he open his mouth? unfortunately, euthanasia might be the better choice if he's suffering that much; otherwise, perhaps you or someone else (via the afore-mentioned reptile rescue option) can give him the special care he'll need for a comfortable life.

good luck, and keep us posted on how s/he is doing.

Yes he is definitly a moron and there are other stupid things he is doing. The eating thing is in the air since he can't chew or tear. So what i am trying is to take all the vegtables and calcium and vitamins put it in with water and make like a drink. It isn't working as well as i hoped but i think i could get it to work. What i am wonderin is if the drink idea is good i mean since i am only 15 and not experienced with this kind of problem. This is also why i am thinkin of giving it to a rescue since they are used to these types of gruesome accidents. I am also using my friend who works at this petstore an trying to find out all that is wrong that happens their. What i do know is they are horrible to all the baby animals there, the owner has no idea what he is doing an then trys to tell me one day that iguanas during breeding season don't change in attitud. He also told me not to believe what i hear in reptiles magazine. Yes but i will keep you posted on the tortoise an tell you if i give it to a rescue.

People like that just drive me up the wall. They're willing to sell animals for a profit, but they don't want to take the time to find out how to care for them properly. Grrrrrrrr.

Is the tortoise able to open its mouth easily? Can it use its tongue (they push the food back in their throat with their tongue)? If it can't, it will probably have to be tube fed, and you would be better off giving it to a rescue so they can assess its condition and what treatment to give it (or whether euthanasia would be the best option).

Thank you for being goodhearted and willing to do what it takes to help that poor tortoise!
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

He can open his mouth but his tongue seems to be not working very well. Yes but i decided that i am not experienced enough to handle its needs which is horrible because this is the first time i have been allowed to take in one of the animals from this petstore. I think the tortoise will be alright since i go to meetings for a group called NOAH i am not yet a member but i am sure someone there will be able to take it in, or give me the names for good rescue groups. Well that is all i can say for now i will keep you all posted.

Go to the turtlehomes.org site and email Lori Green with the problem. She can direct you to a rescue organization in your area that can help. I think perhaps the poor animal is just so traumatized by his experience. He will definitely need tube feeding until he heals up and learns how to cope with his difiguring injury. It was really a special thing you did buying him and even more special that you see his needs are far more than you can you handle and want to give him up to someone who can save him. You're a very unselfish person who truly has the animal's best interest at heart. It's nice to see that.

Steve

thanks yeah i am defintly happy you gave me that site because i was having problems finding a rescue. Also if anyone was wondering i went to the vet and all he would say is he wanted to euthanize it he didn't really even look at it. well i tell you all when i find a rescue group.

One more option is to sign into the Reptileresq group at yahoo. There are lots of folks their who could direct you to people that can help.