Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was given a leopard tortoise and am wanting to clarify somethings. When she is eating she makes a clicking sound. Is this normal or does she have a problem with her jaw? The other thing is how good of eye sight to tortoises have? She doesn't really seem to have good aim at her food or can't get it. Just not sure.

Thanks, Jerrica

When I got my two redfoot hatchlings at two weeks old, their 3D vision really didn't seem to be very good. They missed a lot of times when they tried to get a bite from their food. They were having an easier time at that point to eat from whole leaves or bigger pieces of leaves, than the tiny cut salad mix I tried to feed them at first. This 'vision problem' improved very quickly though in the course of the following weeks.
Putting them into a big pile of food definitely makes things easier for them.
One of them made a clicking sound, sometimes while eating and sometimes 'without a reason' and I was wondering, if she had a jaw problem. Over the time I have heard it less often, but I read from a number of people, that they experienced the same thing,- so I think, nothing to worry about!

Gaby

they have excellent vision, just slightly far-sighted, meaning
that things right in front of their face is slightly harder
to see than distance things. My tortoise can see everything
there's no peeking out the window to check him, he'll see ya.
That's why they tend not to like something put "right in their
face" so if you're gonna pet them (mine let's me hold his
head he doesn't care), let them see your hand coming. I can
also tell that he can't see something coming up from behind him,
based on eye placement so you could surprise them like that.

Thanks for the reply. Rosebud my tortoise is older. I know that the people who had her before me had her for 5 years and she wasn't a hatchling when they got her. I know that they weren't taking care of her like they should have. I have gotten her lights, as she was kept in a basement before. I also offer her a variety of grasses other plants that she loves to eat. The other people said that they gave her some bagged salad once a week. I also put distilled water in her tub as the water is very hard around here and she came to us with water deposits built up on her shell. I am not certain what to do with those. Oh well. I may take her to the vet and see what he says. I know that it won't be much as I am sure he knows little to nothing about tortoises. This is cowboy country. If she was a cow no problem. Ha Ha. I was hoping to show him her upper jaw. Thanks again, Jerrica.

my redfoot also makes a sound like a chirpy click with his mouth, sometimes while eating, sometimes just for the hell of it (or so it seems). i think it's sute... as long as your tort's beak doesn't look overgrown, i wouldn't worry.

i wonder about their vision, too. what niki says about being farsighted makes sense, because mine flinches if you go to pet him and he doesn't see you coming. also, he often seems to gauge distance for food by bumping it with his nose before taking a bite.

How do I know if the beak is to long? That is what I am kind of worried about. She looks like she almost has a triangle shaped tooth in front.

well... especially as you mentioned that she wasn't exactly getting proper care before you got her, i'd really recommend trying to locate a vet that knows about reptiles. s/he could then check your new tort out for parasites and could take care of her beak if it is too long.

try comparing her beak to pictures of other tortoises. they're supposed have kind of a point in the front (like a parrot, sort of), but that part can grow too long. the picture's not the greatest, but i've linked to one in the galleries below that shows a box turtle with shell deformities and an overgrown beak.

also http://www.pogospals.com/pogospals/Beak_Trim.html is where you can see a russian tort with SEVERE overgrown beak and shell deformities. poor girl.
pic of abused box turtle