Basic health checks for tortoises | happytortoises

[@thatbeadguytv]

This is exactly what i have been searching for as a first time tortoise owner, thank you for such an indepth video! :)

[@kindtonature5000]

Congratulations. What kind of tortoise do you have?

[@thatbeadguytv]

@@kindtonature5000 I have adopted a 9 month old herman tortoise :)

[@thatbeadguytv]

@@kindtonature5000 okay thank you for your help :)

[@welp3322]

@@thatbeadguytv hi. We've recently got tortoises but they aren't eating anything and the female is very shy. Any advice? They are babies so any advice would be appreciated

[@thatbeadguytv]

@@welp3322 Im not really sure sorry, i used this video to get advice from, best to ring a lotal tortoise expert or exotic vet :)

[@lancehalzen]

Your videos helped me A LOT in preparing for my baby greek tortoise. You explained everything very clearly. Thanks sooo much!

[@rasa5343]

Awesome video! I'm about to get my first tortoise, and I have been watching a lot of videos to try to learn as much as I can, but I like the very clear examples and details that you give. Thank you for giving information that some may find basic... it's very helpful for someone who has never kept a tortoise before.

[@jasonoberbeck9820]

Thank you for putting together what by far are some of the most informative videos about tortoises and tortoise care! I have a 6 month old Ivory Leopard Tortoise. I had researched 2 months prior to getting him to educate myself the best I could so I can provide the best care etc. However, much of the information I received from tortoise shops, tortoise rescues and books seemed too generalized and would often conflict just like you mentioned in the "What to feed your baby Leopard" video, about conflicting diet information. I am glad I found your videos and hope to see more! You're time and effort are appreciated and my Tort thanks you too. Cheers!

[@happytortoises]

Aw, thank-you so much for your lovely feedback and I'm so pleased you're finding my videos helpful! 😍😍 I also found it so confusing when I first got my tortoises with all that conflicting information out there & didn't know who to believe... but after loads of research (books/internet etc) I've found reliable sources as well as I can share my own experiences to help cut out the confusion for new owners! It's great that you took the time to do your research before you got your little ivory leopard tortoise (he/she sounds beautiful!) 😊💚🐢

[@lifechangingq2516]

So clear and easy to acknowledge. I hope more people watch your video. It help so much for tortoise lover and keeper.

[@nickwf70]

Love your tortoise videos, so clear and precise. This is all critical information perspective tortoise owners should be aware of before even thinking about getting a tortoise. A lot of thought, commitment, time and expensive to look after them properly. They fantastic pets but not for busy people I would say. Your babies are beautiful.

[@happytortoises]

Nick F Thank-you so much for your comment & the lovely feedback!🙏 😁💚 yes, I agree & hopefully perspective owners will find this useful before getting a tortoise 💚🐢

[@dozersmom22]

This video is amazing. I am getting my Hermanns tortoise in a few weeks, so I really appreciate the information you’ve provided. Thank you!

[@kenzieh5333]

Krista S how is he/she? I’m getting mine July 23!

[@mlapointej]

@@kenzieh5333 I just got a Hermann's 3 days ago

[@jackpepper2501]

Exceptional work on how to care for a hatchling leopard tortoise. Thank you for sharing. JP

[@happytortoises]

Thank you very much, glad you liked the video! Thanks for your support of my channel 😊

[@ORESanAtanasioOREStAthanasius]

Thank you, thank you, just what I needed to know! I am so grateful for this information. I have had Mateo and Lucy for almost one year and they have pyrimid shells, and I will try what you said on high fiber diet. Thank you and God bless.

[@happytortoises]

Thanks so much for your comment, I'm pleased you found the video helpful 😊

[@gurydaizy476]

Thank you so much for the effort and all those informations. This video was so helpful

[@happytortoises]

I'm pleased you found the video helpful 😊 Thanks for your support

[@t.jfincas866]

Fantastic video very informative thank you!

[@happytortoises]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@June_Bear]

This was very informative, much appreciated! May I ask if you can make a video on how to identify the gender ?

[@earlwynncasanas4890]

I planning to buy me a tortoise. This is very goood help. 😊 I love your voice too. 😊

[@fuzzperoni]

Great video. Can you make a video about Spur Thigh care from hatchling please.

[@leeloodallasmultibox6172]

Thank you for the video.

[@BrooklynPlayss]

my hermanns tortoise has a stone slate and is 2 years old and has an overgrown beak and it’s had that slate for 2 years ever since we first got it what do i do

[@jacksmith6948]

On my tortoise head there a bit of skin peeling is that it shedding ?

[@aadityajain123]

Can you please make some videos with information on Indian star tortoise

[@happytortoises]

Thanks for the video suggestion! yes, I'm hoping to work on indian star tortoise videos soon 😊

[@sophiaiscoping]

I noticed that my baby Herman tortoise had difficulty in biting onto the lettuce, what does this mean?

[@theonlym2.0]

Should I give it a bath every day but mine is a desert tortoise

[@Michaelcham93]

Why baby tortoise is translucent after doing a light test and some look is hollow and and some are not ?

[@toxicwaste2051]

Im so frustrated because i have a baby blond leopard and she wont open her eyes, move, eat, or drink and shes ben doing it for days now ive been trying to keep her hydrated by soaking her but i cant make her eat anything. I have a baby slucotta and he’s perfect and wont stop eating infact hes very happy but i cant figure out why the other is not doing well

[@hyhyhyh1245]

We've a rescue tort, is there any way to gauge it's age?

[@dena_9518]

Thank you so much

[@alisharahman2709]

How often do you recommend that you should you give your tortoise a health check?

[@iamroy9308]

Alisha Rahman you will notice if it’s sick aslong as it’s Eating,pooping, and active it’s fine

[@gg_v2]

@@iamroy9308 this also applies with russian tortoises? He’s eating and active, but I don’t see him drinking..i give him clean water in his turtle bowl and weekly baths(1-2)

[@eman.elemary]

How can i know if my tortoise male or female!! + i love your channel.. thanks alot

[@IdontKnow-dx7xc]

E it depends how old or how big your tortoise is. It's almost impossible to sex a hatchling tortoise

[@glissfidgets950]

Hiya I know this is late but you don’t know a tortoises age until they are seven years old

[@hyhyhyh1245]

It usually can be gauged by looking at their tails. If the tail is longer, narrower and pointy, it could be a male. On the other hand, females have a wider, shorter tail.

[@Skysdetailing]

My tortoise is only active out of the cage and sleeps when I side the cage and only eats a little of food but pees fine can seem to find poo

[@yourlocalshortie4316]

My tortoises eyes are kind of swollen and she’s walking weirdly , please tell me what to do , I’m really worried

[@happytortoises]

Without seeing photos or video it's difficult to tell, but from what you've described it doesn't sound right and I'd recommend taking your tortoise to get checked out by a reptile specialist vet asap.

[@ibrahimsaiyad4051]

Please also make video on INDIAN STAR TORTOISE

[@titanium8282]

My sulcata tortoise shell is is soft he is about 2 months old would you say that's normal and what calcium would you recommend

[@RawJack]

after 6-12 months the shell should be completely hard. I wouldn't worry yet! I also recommend repashi calcium powder for the lil guys greens!

[@sammypayan6176]

My baby shell underneath feels soft I've had him for 7 months maybe longer he's fine besides that. Except the eyes look puffy sometimes he eats almost everyday eats poops normally is very curious with me lets me pet his head ..the only thing that freaked me out was I Gently pushed on his underbelly and it pushed in a little and that sacred me is there anything wrong with him

[@hyhyhyh1245]

You should take him to a vet perhaps. Also increasing his calcium intake might help but a professional medical opinion should be sought

[@hyunjin3ko]

Hi, does anyone know why my horsfeild tortoise has red lining on the skin around his mouth? Thank you:)

[@jamiewalton6982]

It’s probably not a tortoise!! Google ‘red ear slider’ it’s a type of turtle that lives in both land and water and has a completely different set up to a tortoise

[@abbymcgowan5914]

My tortoise isn’t drinking like he isn’t putting his head underwater or doing anything he’s just not drinking how do I fix that

[@happytortoises]

Giving your tortoise regular baths and providing a shallow bowl of clean water for him to drink from when needed plus regularly misting his enclosure will make sure he's nicely hydrated

[@tasharae888]

Thank uu🐢

[@abbymcgowan5914]

Also my tortoise has green around his mouth not sure if it’s his lettuce or what

[@happytortoises]

It's difficult to tell without seeing a photo of what you mean, but it could well be from the foods he's eating?

[@bassemajaber8791]

Heey ,, my turtle doesn’t eat and drink :/ and she hadn’t pooped for 2 days is that normal ?

[@laurae7777]

Have you got him/ moved recently. Mine rejected food for the first week but was fine after that

[@SirDunzo]

! HELP ! my tortoise shell is very squishy and I have no idea why, I feed it cucumbers, lettuce, kiwi fruit, watermelon (sometimes) and stuff like that, I also dont have a water bowl because it is tiny so I wash the food alot and dont know if that is a reason to be squishy. I got the tortoise like 1.5 years ago and it became squishy two weeks ago.

[@gori7478]

Your lighting could be incorrect thus they aren't getting the required wavelengths of light or it doesn't have enough calcium in its diet.

[@SirDunzo]

@@gori7478 I set it out in my balcony and the shell is slowly getting harder. That was 3 weeks ago

[@idk-my1ho]

@@SirDunzo yh keep doing that Do you add calcium powder to its food? If not add a pinch like every other day or smth

[@SirDunzo]

@@idk-my1ho T-T it died a month ago...

[@idk-my1ho]

@@SirDunzo shit srry that happend

[@mariaj4]

Hatchlings tend to walk bit glidingly

[@Antsshawx]

My 2 leopards like to be picked up and come to me when I let them out sit next too my leg is this unusual

[@yungcxrlos3158]

Haha no its not, my tortoise loves to get petted and follows me where ever I go.

[@bobanimations808]

i was confused why my tortoise was breathing like that. and infact thats just how they breathe... i feel so stupid but i dont remember my last tortoise doing that- probably because it was a box *turtle*

[@broganr6495]

Hey, I love your videos, they give me such peace of mind as a new tort momma! I got my 2 year old horsefield three days ago, he/she is very timid, which I understand is normal due to being in a new environment, Ted is eating and drinking, and wanders around his table, the only unusual things i've noticed is he wipes his eyes, I slightly dampened the substrate so it wasn't as dusty, and he is doing it a lot less frequently, I've checked his eyes and they don't seem swollen and theres no discharge, so I'm hoping this is ok, and the substrate misting is the correct remedy, he also seems to become much more active after a bath, his enclosure is 31 degrees Celsius in the basking area and around 25 in the cool area, at night the temp is 21, I have read up on it, but I'd love to know wether you think this is optimal for my little buddy, thank you hope to hear from you

[@broganr6495]

I forgot to mention the humidity ranges from 30 to 45 dependent on the area

[@happytortoises]

Thank-you for the lovely feedback & I'm pleased you're finding the videos helpful! 😊 Yes, Ted (cute name!) will take a few days to settle into his new home, but sounds like he's doing all the normal tortoise things & you're taking great care of him. However, you're right, wiping his eyes is a little worrying... there can be a number of reasons for this like: a) dusty/sandy substrate; b) using unsuitable substrates (e.g. with chemicals or is unsuitable for tortoises - what substrate are you using?); c) dehydration (make sure he has regular baths - 2 -3 per week); d) too low humidity (spray soil regularly & offer a humid hide); e) bulbs (some coil and incandescent bulbs can cause eye problems); f) abscesses & other eye problems etc. This also may have been an issue with his previous setup before he came to you, so it's worth checking all these things with them too. It may also be worth a trip to the vets (reptile specialist) just to get him checked over. I hope this helps you.

[@broganr6495]

Thank you for your quick response! I bought Ted from a local pet store I frequent for locusts for my Tarantula, I'd had my eye on him for a while, he was in a table with another horsefield who apparently hogged most of the food, Ted was asleep when I picked him out, but woke up when they put him in his little carry tub and roamed around his new enclosure when we got home, checking everything out! I use pro rep tortoise life substrate as it was recommended, but it is very dry, a mix of what seems like a sand substance and some grainy rocks, I am trying to find the right level of dampness as I don't want it to be too wet, or too dry which appears to cause the wiping of his eyes. Though his eyes look fine, I notice when he wakes up he tends to have some substrate residue around his eyes, as I think he must stick his head slightly in the substrate when he sleeps. As for lights, I have a 100w Komodo basking bulb and Komodo UV light all recommended by the pet store. That being said, I completely agree with you and I'd rather not wait it out to see if he improves, I'll see if my local vet is knowledgeable and capable of checking out my little buddy, for peace of mind! Thanks again for such a speedy, thorough response, I really appreciate it, and thank you for the fantastic videos! Your torts are adorable and no doubt very happy and well looked after! :)

[@sup389]

I had my hatchling for 1 1/2 and it's not growing at all he grew like 2 cm and he isn't active and I don't see him poop or pee

[@robertwisher3219]

my turtle is 8 years old and he's only about 7cm around keep in mind they live for over a hundred years and will grow if you keep them healthy

[@yshiiii]

plz tell what to do if tortoise has dislocated his hand

[@hyhyhyh1245]

I hope you visited the vet and the tort is healthy!

[@NikhilUgalerhythmnikhil]

Pls make videos on star tortoise!

[@happytortoises]

Unfortunately I don't have star tortoises in my collection but I will definitely make some videos on them if/when I do! 😍🐢 What videos would you find useful for star tortoises?

[@NikhilUgalerhythmnikhil]

happytortoises For star tortoise I would like to know more about there habitat/enclosure, diet.

[@happytortoises]

Great - thanks for the star tortoise video suggestions, I will definitely make these videos once I have them in my care 🙏😊🐢

[@pradhyumsharma1710]

My tortoise shell is getting red from below

[@happytortoises]

It's difficult to tell without photos of area you're concerned about and what breed of tortoise you have... if you're worried about your tortoise's health then please seek help/advice from a reptile specialist vet

[@garlicbread3000]

my Hermann's tortoise is just over a month old but it walks with its legs spread out. is this normal for it?

[@happytortoises]

I would need to see a video of your little one walking to see what you mean - are you able to DM me on Instagram?

[@barbarabaker1726]

I have a box turtle. They are very special to me had 4 but the others passed now just me and bigmam she's my girl eat more than me

[@marivera188]

I just got a baby leopard tortoise they told me is like 4 months old I put the lights on and almost everything you show in your videos but he or she doesn't walk too much I'm not sure if that is normal please help me

[@happytortoises]

Are the temperatures OK? Is your little one eating/drinking/pooping OK? Have you tried doing the basic health checks in this video? Some of my baby tortoises are shy and like to hide away under plants or in their hide, whereas others are quite active and inquisitive! Feel free to DM me on Instagram if you want to send me photo/video of your little one so I can have a look for you 😊💚🐢

[@Bloofy123]

My tortoise is a greek tortoise, 1 year old

[@vickymarinou6271]

You're so lucky! I live in Greece and it's illegal here to keep a tortoise as a pet. I love tortoises

[@dena_9518]

My turtle dont like vegtable...

[@anaseltalbwa3857]

Beaks are for birds

[@plantpotshoes2644]

You can classify reptiles and birds very very closely

[@radit.z0794]

Plz reply

[@radit.z0794]

Yes but i have only one tortoise and he is very alone

[@Bluesidian]

who disinfects everything for them, out in the wild? lol

[@sarthakmohapatra3738]

Exactly

[@hyhyhyh1245]

They die a lot younger in the wild, we wouldn't want the torts in our care to be unhealthy :)

[@auraw2262]

In captivity they'll be exposed to a lot of strange things they wouldn't in the wild

[@radit.z0794]

My tortoise is every time is going in corner and sleep every day

[@radit.z0794]

I want selcuta tortoise

[@radit.z0794]

Yes i have only one tortoise and he is very alone

[@radit.z0794]

I have indian star tortoise and im findind a partner for him but in india indian star tortoise is illegal so what i do now

[@radit.z0794]

Yes

[@radit.z0794]

In Enclosure what i use for ground plz reply

[@sdqsdq6274]

sad to say hatchling dies easily

[@happytortoises]

Yes hatchlings do needs lots more care (0-12 months is the critical age), but at any age a tortoise could suffer with the wrong care/husbandry 🐢

[@sdqsdq6274]

yea ,breeders should be responsible and sell their babies after 1 year then

[@lajoslajos5001]

OK. VIVA USA.6United States of America./UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 2020.-2021.-2022.-2023.🙂🙂🙂

[@TerraGenocide]

My tortoise has gone blind because of the dumbass Exo Terra coil UVB bulb i bought because UVB is recommended. (Did not find out until 3 days of using it that it causes blindness in reptiles and there is NO WARNING ON THE BOX) I am absolutely furious because he cannot eat properly, he just kinda bites the air near the food until I feed him myself, he misses every bite and I have to angle the leaves into his mouth as he blindly bites the air, it breaks my heart because I got him as a hatchling a few weeks ago. Now I'm stuck with a blind tortoise I am going to have to hand feed daily for the rest of my life.