This is a long one so keep reading, it'll be worth it.
First, how long have you had your Greek? Have you had a fecal test done? If not, you need to as it’ll be full of parasites and they need to be knocked down and eliminated or you’ll have other problems right after you get the RNS corrected.
Second, what type of Greek is it? Ibera, Graeca Graeca, or Golden/Middle Eastern.
The reason I ask is once you get things corrected the husbandry of each is different and those differences make a very big difference.
Sounds like your Greek has fairly advanced RNS if you're getting some blood. Start by keeping the temps no lower than 75-80 degrees. 95 under the basking lamp 75-80 everywhere else in the pen. Also, keep the humidity below 30% for now. Baytril is the drug of choice for RNS. You’re going to need to find vet who can get you Baytril. That shouldn't be a problem. First, send me via e-mail (ernie_j@hotmail.com) the weight in grams of your Greek. Dosage is determined by weight so it’svital it be in grams and accurate. Our vet treats reptiles/turtles/torts all the time so I can get correct dosage once I get your torts weight. My original male Golden had three courses of Baytril over a 6 month period. He had a very serious case of RNS. He’s pretty much bullet-proof now; but he was a wreck four years ago. Now, Baytril is supposed to be dosed the first time via injection and orally after the first dosage, but most vets don't know that so your vet will give you syringes. Once you get them ping me again and I'll walk through how to inject your tort. They hate it, but it’ll save its life. It will be a 10-14 day course.
Also, watch where your Greek basks in relation to the light beam of the basking lamp. If it’s basking at the outer fringes of the beam now (which I’m guessing it is), it’s an indication of sickness. Once you start the Baytril it will, over a few days, slowly move to the center of the beam. That's how'll you know the Baytril is working along with a general perk up and reduction of nasal mucus. All healthy torts bask in the center of a light beam.
Now, the diet. You need to correct this immediately or
all of your efforts will be wasted. Greek’s need high a calcium to phosphorus ratio and high fiber diet. Neither of those requirements is met with romaine and carrots. Bag the romaine except if it’s the ONLY green available, and then only for short periods of time. The same goes for carrots. There is a much better source of Vitamin A for torts than carrots. They’re called dandelions. Your yard at this time of the year is more than likely full of them.
The basic diet for your Greek should be 100% dark leafy greens and cactus pads. The carbohydrates in carrots are too easily broken down by tortoises and eventually cause all sorts of gastrointestinal problems. Once in a blue moon is fine, as a regular part of a diet, no way. Here’s the best diet with substitues from the grocery store if they aren’t available. Dandelions, plantain (a weed that looks like a baby hosta),grape leaves, mallow (another weed that looks like a baby hollyhock), cactus pads, thistle (yes, that ugly weed that looks like a pin cushion and feels like one if you pick it up without gloves). They love thistle and the thorny parts don’t bother them a bit. As for grocery substitutes, endive, escarole, turnip greens (the best non-weed you can feed them), collard greens (on occasion, just not as a regular part of the diet), radicchio (looks like a small red head of cabbage). Dandelions can be found at most groceries today and if you have a Whole Foods store near you they have 2-3 varieties all year. They should be the foundation of your tortoise’s diet, a 30-40% part of the salad you should make from the above “ingredients”.
Supplement the salad/greens with a good calcium powder with D3. Most keepers choice is RepCal with D3 and it can be found at PetSmart or Petco or your local reptile dealer has or can get it. Add it twice a week. Lastly, locate dried timothy hay and chop it up and add a hefty amount to the salad making sure it sticks to most of the greens. This ads fiber, which is very important, unfortunately not enough people pay enough attention to this part of the diet.
So, get me its weight and correct the diet ASAP.
FWIW, I’ve been keeping Greeks (Ibera, Graeca Graeca, and Golden’s) for 26 years. Have seen it all over that time frame AND have a pretty fair understanding of what does and doesn’t work.
Later
Ernie
