There is so much on the web about lizards, MBD, and their symptoms, but there isn't much out there specific to tortoises. Is it something that has to be determined through blood work, or can a physical examine do the job?
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What are the MBD symptoms that tortoises exhibit?
fisherk2
Jul 19, 2003 01:30 AM
Replies (3)
geckoman2003
Jul 19, 2003 04:31 PM
If I remmember correctly, a soften shell and deformed leggs. You may also be able to tell by xray.
Why do you think you have an issue with one of your torts? If so take them to a herp vet ASAP, Please!!!
fisherk2
Jul 19, 2003 07:02 PM
No, I was just wondering because it is hard to find info on it. In the articles I've found about inproper diet, people say a ton of stuff about pyramiding, and then they mention MDB. The symptoms for snakes and lizards don't seem to apply to tortoises. Tortoises have such thick limbs that it would be hard to tell if they were soft, you can't see their spine, and their head structure is such that you couldn't tell if they had a soft jaw. It just seems like a tortoise has to be in pretty dire straights before you can figure out that it has MBD, and I was wondering if there was a way to tell before it actually became deformed.
Niki
Jul 19, 2003 09:51 PM
The shell is abnormally soft when squeezed from both sides
gently it will "give" and feel soft. I think tremors
would be noticable with poor coordination of limbs.
