My russian tortoise has shell rot.?

Question

He has 2 spots of shell rot. Any suggestions of what to do? I usually just keep putting vita shell on. I dry him off, his Subtrate is not TOO moist, and I think He loves swimming so he keeps going in his water bowl.

I'm not to fond of tortoise medicine so the spots are a brownish color, does that mean they're infected?

It's on his bottom shell.

Answer 1

Most cases of simple "shell-rot", however, respond well to debridement of loose or soft (affected) tissue and thorough cleansing, at least twice daily, with a povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine solution. This should be fairly vigorously applied using an old toothbrush or nail brush. Rinse off after each application. It is important that the affected area is kept dry and air is allowed to circulate freely - many of the organisms typically responsible for this condition are anaerobic, or do best when actually deprived of oxygen. If it should become necessary to cover the affected area (to prevent fly-strike, for example) then do so with a fine gauze which does not "seal" the area. All such cases require very careful follow-up and long term monitoring. The longer an infection of this type persists untreated, the greater the danger of it turning into a much more serious systemic infection or ulcerating abscess, deep in the bony tissue. Veterinary attention should be sought in all cases, for the full details of how to treat shell rot go the the site in the sources and look under articles it is called shell rot revised but it may be of some use to you, best of luck honey hope your tortoise gets better soon,

Answer 2

He may be bitting on it. Bacteria attack =[

Answer 3

To clear this up, you will have to give him a heavy SMALL bowl he can't tip, but can't fit in, to soak, either.  He will still need to drink.  Make sure his bedding is clean and dry.  Be sure to discard all bedding and disenfect his habitat before beginning treatment.

Shell rot needs water to grow.

Keep the tortoise warm and give it plenty of light (UVB).

Scrub the shell gently with a toothbrush and clean water.

1-2 times a day take a cotton ball and apply Hydrogen Peroxide to it, then onto his plastron (bottom shell). It'll start bubbling which means its cleaning it. DO NOT get it in his eyes.  Let it bubble until it stops.  You will have to hold him while doing this.

Wipe off the Hydrogen Peroxide, and then clean the shell.  Apply providone-iodine solution to the plastron.  Again, you will have to hold him until it dries.

Keep this up for a couple of weeks and it should go away.

If you feel he needs to be permitted to soak for a short time (no more than 10 -15 min.) daily; then be sure his shell is completely washed clean of the medicine before permitting him to enter the water.  You do not want him to drink it.  Time his soak so it occurs a bit before the time you plan to apply the Peroxide and Iodine (this will also leave the iodine on as long as possible, before you wash it off).

If the condition worsens at all, or doesn't clear up in 2 weeks; discontinue, and take the tortoise to a qualified reptile vet.

Once you get him healed again, I would strongly recommend that you continue to use the small bowl for his drinking, and only provide a bowl for soaking for a limited amount of time daily (1/2 hr. or so, to allow him to clean his eyes, etc.).

I hope this has been of help.

Answer 4

Watch over him for a week. If he isn't feeling any pain, he is fine. If he is acting itchy or frightend (e.t.c) take him to a vet.

Answer 5

take him to the vet

Answer 6

Make sure the water has no parasites or bacteria that may be chewing away at its shell, make sure the water is clean and keep up what ur doing ( putting vita-shell on), if this persists, bring him to a vet and make sure.

It is possible that it could be infected, If I were you I'd bring him to the vet to make sure, but i wouldn't think its an infection it could just be a side-affect from the medicine.

Hope I helped

Adam

Answer 7

What kind of substrate are you using? You need to switch to newspaper immediately until the rot gets better. Unfortunately, my russian tortoise has shell rot as well. It's because I use bark and I guess someone told me it's too moist. So change the substrate.

Answer 8

for a turtle vet in your city and state..

Contact the “herpetologicalsocieties.com“.