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Posted by Terry on June 05, 2000 at 16:14:59:

In Reply to: Re: Leopard Tort may be sick-please help posted by Terry on June 05, 2000 at 14:10:19:

Andrew if the Leopard is wild caught and you've only had it a short time, I recommend that you have not only a stool test, but also a urine test done.
Hexamita parva is a concern in wild caught tortoises. this is a nasty parasite. It will be detected in a urine sample, not a stool sample.
Symptoms include excessive drinking, anorexia and lethargy.
Now.
All this can be a bit alarming for a new tort keeper. I know I worried endlessly over my first tortoise, and still do with some of the more delicate species.

There could be many reasons for your tortoises behaviour.
It could be shy and aclimating a wild caught tortoise can take quite some time.
It could be ill, something that the vet didn't find in the initial visit.
Or it could have become chilled on it's way to or at the vet.
Or just be stressed out from the visit.
One other thing could be husbandry, are the temperatures correct, is the substrate a problem?
I know that when I kept my leopard hatchlings on rabbit pellets, no matter how often I changed it mites became a problem.
The mites would bite the area around the hatchlings eyes.
I changed the substrate and had no more problems.

Keep a very close eye on it, and if you are concerned then only a vet can reasure you. As they will be able to examine the tortoise and run tests.

Please let us know how things go. It can be very worrying , believe me I know. I think all of us who keep torts worry constantly!
If in any doubt visit a vet, better safe than sorry.
Terry.

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: Andrew if the Leopard is wild caught and you've only had it a short time, I recommend that you have not only a stool test, but also a urine test done. : Hexamita parva is a concern in wild caught tortoises. this is a nasty parasite. It will be detected in a urine sample, not a stool sample. : Symptoms include excessive drinking, anorexia and lethargy. : Now. : All this can be a bit alarming for a new tort keeper. I know I worried endlessly over my first tortoise, and still do with some of the more delicate species. : There could be many reasons for your tortoises behaviour. : It could be shy and aclimating a wild caught tortoise can take quite some time. : It could be ill, something that the vet didn't find in the initial visit. : Or it could have become chilled on it's way to or at the vet. : Or just be stressed out from the visit. : One other thing could be husbandry, are the temperatures correct, is the substrate a problem? : I know that when I kept my leopard hatchlings on rabbit pellets, no matter how often I changed it mites became a problem. : The mites would bite the area around the hatchlings eyes. : I changed the substrate and had no more problems. : Keep a very close eye on it, and if you are concerned then only a vet can reasure you. As they will be able to examine the tortoise and run tests. : Please let us know how things go. It can be very worrying , believe me I know. I think all of us who keep torts worry constantly! : If in any doubt visit a vet, better safe than sorry. : Terry.

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