Vet Q&A-Reptile

In my tortoise's habitat I found a worm and was planning on changing the dirt today but found a lot of worms in the water what does this mean?

These are likely not parasites, but rather insects that made their way into the enclosure. To be sure, you can submit them and a stool sample to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites. Clean the enclosure and water bowl as planned. Fresh water should be provided daily.

My turtle is starting to have black around her nose is that normal ? And I just realized that I've been feeding her the wrong things I've been giving her dried shrimp what can I give her instead that will be healthier

Hello, & thank you for using Boop by Petco. Juvenile RES should receive commercial aquatic turtle pellets, supplemented occasionally with live fish (guppies, goldfish), & earthworms. Make sure she gets at least 15 minutes of natural sunlight weekly. Adults need 30% of diet to be the pellets & some protein like mentioned above. The krill can be offered on occasion. 70% of the diet needs to be plants in the form of chopped leafy greens, kale, romaine, mustard greens, dandelion greens, watercress, parsley, shredded carrot, frozen (thawed) mixed veggies & squash, & occasional fruit. Take care.

What really would happen if you put a male and a male leopard gecko together? How bad is it? Would they really fight to the death? Or at least enough to really injure another?

It may be possible to house two juvenile males together, but once they mature they will become aggressive towards each other. They are very territorial, thus housing them together would not be recommended. You can house two females together however.

I got a created gecko early this year. He’s been fine but lately shedding a lot more because I put a uvb light on him and now both eyes are cloudy (looks like the surface ) I haven’t noticed him moving that much but other then that he seems fine. He also has a bit of stuck shed which he never have a issue with before. My other crested gecko that I got at the same time as him is perfectly fine. Zeppelin is pretty small compared to my other one though.

Crested geckos don't "need" UVB lighting as long as they are fed a diet adequate in vitamin D3. Soak or mist him with warm water to help facilitate shedding. The cloudiness may be related to the shed or it may be due to infection or trauma. An exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles would be recommended if the cloudiness does not resolve after the shed is complete.

Our red slider turtle has a large amount of green mold growing in the cracks of her shell. Is this dangerous? What should we do about it? Thanks much.

Use a soft bristled toothbrush and some diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine solution to gently scrub the shell. Do this daily and dry dock (keep her out of the water) her about an hour or two after each scrubbing. Check water quality and filtration. Rinse filter media with tank water and perform a water change (20-30%) if necessary. Make sure the filter is producing a moderate current to prevent stagnation. Use a timer to limit the photo period to 10-12 hours daily. Adjust the water heater if necessary. Too much light and heat can cause algae overgrowth.

I have a baby tortoise of a few months, I'm not sure about the breed, but have been told it is an angulate tortoise. He is very weak, in such manner that his front legs aren't moving, he pushes himself around with his hind legs. He is not eating or drinking. Occasionally throws his head back, lets his limps out and just hangs, then suddenly has a mini fit of spasms. I need to know what I can do to help him. Is he in pain? Is he dying? I need to know!

It does appear to be a juvenile angulate tortoise. His behavior and symptoms may indicate a respiratory infection. This species does not do well in humid environments. An exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles would be strongly recommended. Any me pet should be examined by a veterinarian within 72 hours of arriving home anyway to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any preexisting conditions. Antibiotics may be indicated if respiratory infection is diagnosed. You can soak him daily in a warm 50 50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. Offer dark leafy greens and provide sufficient heat and UVB lighting. Additional care and diet information can be found at the link below. http://www.chelonia.org/articles/cangulatacare.htm

I have two red ear slider turtles as my pets. From a few days I have been observing that whenever they come out of water for basking the corners of their shell sectors get white. But when they go back in water it looks normal. At first I thought that it must be their skin which must be getting dry after getting out of water and looking like that. But later few who people own turtles suggested that it must be some vitamin deficiency. Pls guide me and tell if there is any problem.

The white spots may be due to high mineral content in your water. Salt from water softening systems may also be responsible. If you are feeding a varied diet (commercial sticks or pellets, live prey/protein, plant matter), maintaining water quality and proving adequate UVB light then there is likely no cause for concern. Monitor your turtles for soft shells, pitting, bleeding, redness, lethargy or decreased appetite.

Does my leopard gecko look female or mal?? She is months old. Also what are signs of dehydration or impact?

The images are not clear enough and your gecko may be too young to definitively determine sex. It is easier to determine sex after 6 months of age. Males have noticeable pre-anal pores just in front of the vent as well as two bulges at the base of the tail caused by the hemipenes. Dehydration and impaction will cause lethargy and decreased appetite. With impaction, you may see difficult or decreased defecation and possibly a swollen abdomen.

- my gf caught this lizard in Jeju, South Korea; we think it's of the Takydromus family; she is caring for him because she's worried about his injury - she has ordered mealworms for him to eat--any other recommendations? - he has had one of his hind feet torn off--should she do anything to treat the wound? - her room gets a good deal of sunlight during the day, but is it enough, or does he need additional special lighting? any other suggestions for improving his living conditions?

It does appear to be of the takydromus species. These grass lizards are common and fairly easy to keep. Being adept climbers, more vertical space should be offered in an enclosure. Branches and vines can be placed for climbing. Bring reptiles, they need an external heat source and UVB lighting. Daytime temps can range from 24 C to 30 C (75-85 F). Provide a basking spot of around 35 C to 38 C (95-100 F) using a heat lamp. Aim for 70-80% humidity. Provide a shallow bowl for water. Mist the cage daily. Feed appropriately sized prey, no bigger than the space between the eyes, that have been gutload for 24 hours prior to offering. This will maximize nutritional value. Crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches, waxworms or wingless fruit flies can all be offered. Dust prey with a calcium supplement and a multivitamin supplement several times weekly. Ideally, the wound should be addressed by a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles. You can clean it with dilute Betadine or chlorhexidine solution daily and monitor for redness, bleeding, lethargy or decreased appetite.