Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My juvi leopard tortoise from time to time blows bubbles from her nares. I have checked her nares several times and they seem clear and healty, they are narrow, but there is no debri or apparent build-up in or around them. So i was just wondering is this sporadic bubbling normal, or should i be seriously concerned? She eats regularly and sleeps alot, but from what i have read that is very normal. Thanks for any help you guys can provide!

-Matt

Bubbles coming out of a tortoise nostril could be sign of a respiratory infection/pneumonia. They are not normal. Check with your vet. BTW, your tortoise's vet should be a specialist herp vet preferable with experience treating turtles/tortoises.

Hope this helps,

If the bubbles come out of her nose after she has eaten, drank water, or has been soaked within 24 hours, then more than likely, it is normal and there is nothing to worry about.

If the bubbles are constant and you also see mucas discharge from the nose, wheezing from the mouth, then I would have her checked out my a qualified veterinarian. Also, puffy, hard to open eyes, lack of appetite and things like that are also a good sign of a repiritory problem.

I hope this helps a bit.
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Kelly Wood

1.1 Cherry Head Redfoots
1.0 Brazillian Redfoots
0.0.2 Leopard tortoises
1.1 Sandfire Bearded Dragons
1.0 Maliuromastyx
0.2 Dogs
2.2 Parakeets
1.3.1 Eastern box turtles
2.6.1 three-toed box turtles
0.2 white, black tail japenese bantams

Thanks for the help

She doesn't constantly have bubbles, it seems to be when near or after she has eaten or drank. Otherwise i dont see any, her eyes look fine, and there is no discharge from her nares, just bubbles once and a while around feeding times. She eats great and her nares are clear otherwise. Thanks for all the help, and i will keep a close eye on her to watch for any change.

-Matt