Reptile & Amphibian Forums

just noticed this tonight, never seen anything like it befor. conditions in the enclosure seem perfest and no other torts have anything wrong. thanks.

Here is a picture:

That is a common fungal infection. You sometimes see it on imported animals and it is often seen on tortoises that are kept too wet or that sit in urine all the time.
For instance, keepers who have a tortoise house in their yard where the animals spend each night can get this if the tortoise house isn't moved from time to time, or the bedding isn't kept clean.
It is also difficult to get rid of. However, Rattay recently told me about using antifungal creams for jock itch, etc. and they seem to work pretty well. The most important thing is to make sure the conditions that cause it to appear are removed.

i've found that junior usually "wets the bed"... when i get him out in the morning, there's often a wet spot where he was sleeping. as long as i clean up his bedding (i tend to use bed-a-beast like kitty litter, getting out the poop/pee bits as needed and replacing the whole lot every couple of months), do you think he's at risk?

is it normal for them to pee in their sleep? or maybe he does it right before he goes to sleep, or after he wakes up, and he just doesn't care...

I have found that triple-antibiotic from your local drug store works well. You should scrub the tort down with a good antibiotic like Betadine or other comparible - to clean the area, apply the ointment and keep the substrate clean to avoid reinfection.

Mild cases will clear up in a matter of days or weeks but it does seem prone to repeat.

Paul

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Are you talking about the white patches around the edges of the shell, or the brown spot in the middle? My tort has that brown spot, too, and I was told it was normal by the vet and by a couple of other RF owners...was she wrong???

Brown spot - normal.
White spots - shell rot - too moist.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

np