Re: Russian needs help!!!

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Posted by Joe on January 25, 1999 at 16:19:40:

In Reply to: Re: Russian needs help!!! posted by Holly on January 25, 1999 at 14:11:20:

: :Hi Josh, my friend has an albino box turtle, a valuable animal, that was very poorly treated by the first owner. The animal had been raised in a calcium and protein deficient environment and had developed a crumpled looking, deformed shell. He (my friend) started the little turtle on a correct diet and with the correct environment. The turtle began to improve and it looked as though the shell would straighten out. But, the back of the carapace over the spine did not grow. It appeared that two scutes were fused and not growing. The decision was made to cut the suture line between the scutes to allow them to bend so the spine would not be affected. That was several years ago, and the little turtle looks quite normal today. I don't know what is causing the problem with your tort. Talk to your vet before you attempt any course of action. This example I have shared with you may or maynot solve your torts problem. Your tort needs to be carefully evaluated before any procedure is performed. (It might just be a young male! The plastron is convex in males.) I offer it to illustrate a method that worked in one case. My best wishes.

In many torts the male has a concave shell. This is not the case with russians. Did the shell suddenly cave in or has it been like this for a while? Russians are very susceptable to shell infections. They must be kept dry eaxept when soaking them 1x a week or so. If it came on fast it could be an infection.

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Oops! My slip is showing! Thanks for the correction. n/m Holly 1/26/99 (0)
Re: Russian needs help!!! josh 1/25/99 (1)
- Re: Russian needs help!!! Joe 1/26/99 (0)

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: : :Hi Josh, my friend has an albino box turtle, a valuable animal, that was very poorly treated by the first owner. The animal had been raised in a calcium and protein deficient environment and had developed a crumpled looking, deformed shell. He (my friend) started the little turtle on a correct diet and with the correct environment. The turtle began to improve and it looked as though the shell would straighten out. But, the back of the carapace over the spine did not grow. It appeared that two scutes were fused and not growing. The decision was made to cut the suture line between the scutes to allow them to bend so the spine would not be affected. That was several years ago, and the little turtle looks quite normal today. I don't know what is causing the problem with your tort. Talk to your vet before you attempt any course of action. This example I have shared with you may or maynot solve your torts problem. Your tort needs to be carefully evaluated before any procedure is performed. (It might just be a young male! The plastron is convex in males.) I offer it to illustrate a method that worked in one case. My best wishes. : In many torts the male has a concave shell. This is not the case with russians. Did the shell suddenly cave in or has it been like this for a while? Russians are very susceptable to shell infections. They must be kept dry eaxept when soaking them 1x a week or so. If it came on fast it could be an infection.

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