Vet Q&A-Reptile

I have a bearded dragon and yesterday he was very sluggish until I fed him and today he's sleeping and when he woke up I fed him crickets but now he is going back to sleep. Could he be going into brumation or is he sick?

Thanks for reaching out about Stitch. If your environmental temperatures are consistent, brumation is not the cause. Bearded dragons need to kept in temperatures of 80-100 degrees during the day, but night temperatures should not drop below 60. A diet limited in crickets can lead to dietary deficiencies such as low protein, low calcium and other minerals lacking. A sick reptile should be examined by a reptile-wavy veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Good luck.

So i found out red ear sliders in Florida are illegal to own since 2008 i found my turtle outside in 2014 as a tiny little girl and assumed since she had red ears she was one. Does she look like a red ear slider to you, do i have to get rid of my pet of 4 almost 5 years? Also my wife is worried about her back side of the top shell

Thanks for reaching out about Squirtle. As per the legality of ownership in the state of Florida, you should probably contact the Florida Department of Wildlife with the inquiry. As per her breed, a red stripe on the head is not identified, she might be a Florida chicken turtle, Florida painted turtle or other aquatic turtle. A local turtle/tortoise club might be better able to identify. Good luck.

I got a tortoise 2 weeks ago and she doesn't eat, she's just sleeping and she doesn't like water Is that OK? What am I supposed to do? :(

Check the temperature in the enclosure. Low temps can affect activity and appetite in reptiles. You can soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes once orb twice a week. This will provide warmth and hydration. Offer a variety of dark, leafy greens, chopped vegetables and commercial pellets. She will also need UVB lighting, a powdered multivitamin and a powdered calcium supplement. Set up a heat lamp to provide a basking area on one side of the tank. There should be an appropriate temperature gradient across the tank so she can move from warm to cool as she needs. If you can provide the species of tortoise, more specific advice can be provided.

Hello, so I got a new snake with this wounds, and i want to know what you guys think caused them and what treatment is the best for her.. Also the person who gifted her to me, said she hasn’t been eating for about 5 weeks, and when I tried today she still refused.. she smelled the rat, even looked interested in figuring out what it was but when the rat touched her, she got scared and curled into a ball.. The person tried feeding her dead rats but she refused to eat. What should i do?

One of the eyes looks odd and it appears there are some dry scales or possibly retained shed on the head. The eye could have been damaged by chronic infection or trauma that went untreated. Retained eye caps are also a possibility. A close physical exam would be needed to confirm any of these conditions. Ball pythons are notorious for their hunger strikes. Confirm proper environmental parameters before feeding. A stressed snake will not eat and low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. Instead of a rat, offer an adult mouse. If you feed live, stun the mouse first to prevent injury. Frozen/thawed prey should be at room temp (or warmer) before offering. Don't use a microwave to though prey. You can get some used gerbil bedding from the local pet store. Rub it on prey prior to offering. This will scent the mouse with a python's natural prey. Survey the area around the enclosure for any negative stimuli. This may include loud noises, bright lights, strong vibrations or strong drafts. Reduce or eliminate them if possible. Cover the cage to provide more security/privacy. If she doesn't eat, remove the prey and wait 5-7 days before offering food again. If she will allow, look in and around her mouth for any signs of infection or injury. This may include redness, swelling, discharge or bleeding. Have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat any infection if you see anything suspicious.

My turtle threw up three times after eating shrimp pellets. She was eating quickly maybe 5 pellets at a time. She is clearly hungry but won't even eat the other pellets. She doesn't like fruit or vegetables. What should I do?

The pellets shown should not be fed to turtles for any length of time. Doing so may lead to nutritional deficiencies. If you feed a pelleted diet, choose one specifically for turtles. You can also offer feeder fish, nightcrawlers and freeze dried prey made for turtles. Turtles are omnivorous, so you should be offering chopped fresh greens and vegetables in addition to animal protein and a pelleted diet.

I have to bearded dragons togetger in a terrarium they are just over 2 montbs old. I went away for the weekend and my mom watched them and I noticed Puff like this this morning. Puff still eats, drinks, socializes, and interacts with the other the same, an mom said everything was good no problem. What should I do?

I wouldn't be overly concerned at this point although he may be constipated or have the start of a blockage. Is it possible your mom overfed him? I notice you have him on sand which often causes blockages. I suggest you switch to a more proper substrate ( like indoor/outdoor carpet or newspaper). I recommend you try soaking him in warm water that may cause the bowels to start moving. ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102919&id=7996830 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I’m not sure if my orenate box turtle has gone into hibernation or if she’s passed away. She has her front legs and head tucked in back legs out and limp with her eyes closed, since I found her unresponsive (4days ago) she hasn’t moved even when I put her in warm water. She doesn’t smell or seemed to have rigormortis and is cool to the touch

Sorry about your turtle. A veterinary visit is recommended to ascertain a heart beat through a doppler or lack of, but sounds as if she has passed. During hibernation, legs are usually tucked in. Sorry.

I gave my adult leopard gecko (female) a large horned worm (size of a pointer finger) as somebody I know told me any size will do, since they’re mostly water. She struggled to get the worm down, and its head was visible in her mouth for a short while. Her abdomen appears “full” and the color of the bright blue worm is showing through her abdomen and neck. She’s stretching her body out and swallowing/licking non stop. Other than that, she appears normal. Should I be worried, or?

Choking is possible, though uncommon in geckos. Most of the time they won't swallow prey that's too big for them, but it is possible for food to get stuck. Your little gecko will most likely be fine - it may be a bit uncomfortable from a larger than usual meal. However, if it continues to act uncomfortable or if you're worried by its behavior, then it could warrant a vet visit.

What should I do to help this poor tortoise? Can I put a little salt in its water?

You have a red eared slider, not a tortoise. A bit of aquarium salt may help, however Nil should be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Antibiotics may be indicted to treat any infection. Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. You can review slider care at the link below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/