Reptile & Amphibian Forums

:angry: I'm quite upset about this. I've never had one of my herps get sick...outside from adopting something that was already ill, and it dying afterwards.

I traded in a pair of Cunningham's skinks, and ended up buying this female red foot tortoise with part of that money. ( Here she is helping my wife scrapbook. )

So, I set her up in a 90 gallon tank ( pretty tall ) which I had laying around -- bed-a-beast mixed with larger husk fibers, a ramp dish, some hiding spots, etc...

Well, I've been working alot. I worked 22 hours straight on Thursday-Friday, got to sleep for 2 hours, then went back for another 5. When I came home I saw she had her head out of her shell...not like her at all.

Her eyes were swollen shut...I swabbed them open, watched her. 5 hours later, she had bubbles coming out of her nose. *sigh...respiratory infection *

It was caused, of course, by my lack of care --- her cage just wasn't warm enough, nor humid, because of my absense. ( and this wouldn't be the first time I've had to be focused on work for a while )

So I brought her to the vet this morning -- injected her with Baytil, and will do so for a total of 5 doses, once every 5 days.

Already, she is holding her head inside -- not laying around --- and no runny nose/mucus for well over 12 hours.

So I should hope things will recover well.

Let this be a lesson -- check temperatures often, even if you've been keeping reptiles for a while. I got lazy, didn't notice her decline....and now I could lose her.

Anyone else have this problem before? I'd like to hear your experience....

-Zeb

My tort is in Tufts Vet Clinic now fighting for her life. I had just gotten her Friday the 9th via express mail. I was surprised how I recieved her- no air holes, no label indication living within or top orientation of box. She could of been tossed around in the blasts of cold air conditioning or in the plane cargo tucked upside-down next to God-knows what awefulness! When I picked her up out of the box she was hanging out of her shell, and a big bubble poped out of her nose. I rushed to Grafton Ma, Tufts University Vet Clinic. She has been there since. The vets have taken to love her and are doing all they can. She's been x-rayed and blood work is being done. She was diagnosed with a GI Trac infection, and according to the blood work, they informed me she had been neglected badly and she is emaciated!!!
I just really wanted to say, that its really easy to take health and temperatures for granted- I wish I had thought to tell the seller to send her to me healthy and through a better service. I know that when she finially comes home- that's if she pulls through- I will never take her health for granted. Good luck and Love to you and your little babes!