Deformed Adult Hermann

jem · 10-03-2012, 07:03 AM

Hi everyone,
Need some advice please-
I have taken in an adult male Hermann (12 years old). He is very lively, eating well, in fact he's one of the most alert tortoises I've ever seen. But, he has a deformed, in parts concave, carapace, with a hump above the front bow. The couple that owned him no doubt loved him to bits but very sadly fed him everything - biscuits!! His poo is tan colour and smells wrong - like poo.
I have changed his diet to weeds etc, supplementing with calcium and nutrobal, scrubbed his 'polished' shell clean, filed down his overgrown beak and hopefully he will be in the garden today for a while (should be 16 degrees). I don't think he has ever been under uva/uvb lights.
My question is am I missing out anything? Does he need extra of everything or just continue as I am.
The sad thing is the lovely couple that owned him took him to the vets regularly. Still no excuse for not researching his diet.
Sorry rant over, any advice welcome.
Jem

**16 shells** · 10-03-2012, 07:24 AM

At a guess Jem i would change whatever like supplement's slowly, sound's like done a good job already. Many Tortoises have seemed to survive without masses of extra Uv, getting enough Uvb from somewhere diet maybe. If using any lamp's Uv wise, i would be inclined to introduce the hour's slowly, just a thought like to see what other's say

.

Box girl · 10-03-2012, 01:10 PM

Agree totally I have found chnaging too quickly can be as bad as keeping the old diet. If the tort was allowed outside then he would have got enough UVB that way.
Good luck with him you have started well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16 shells

At a guess Jem i would change whatever like supplement's slowly, sound's like done a good job already. Many Tortoises have seemed to survive without masses of extra Uv, getting enough Uvb from somewhere diet maybe. If using any lamp's Uv wise, i would be inclined to introduce the hour's slowly, just a thought like to see what other's say

.

SeeShell · 10-03-2012, 01:38 PM

Good luck Gem - lucky tort finding you.

gwenq · 10-03-2012, 06:49 PM

Good luck with him.

knottyedge · 11-03-2012, 03:55 PM

hope all goes well with him

tootsieroll61 · 11-03-2012, 05:05 PM

Hope all goes well

jem · 11-03-2012, 07:31 PM

Thank you for all the replies, I am going to take the advice and slow down the introduction of supplements.
I am a little worried about his back legs. My other tortoises tuck their legs and feet in under their shells when resting only stretching out perhaps one leg when basking. This tortoise always rests with both his back legs fully extended - looking like someone sat on him. Also, his mouth looks ok inside, good pink colour when warm, but the 'lips' area is white. Any comments or advice welcome. Jem

jonesy · 11-03-2012, 10:40 PM

Have you considered taking it to a specialist tortoise vet just to get a once over. it may help

Pembstort · 12-03-2012, 08:24 PM

Poor thing

10-03-2012, 07:03 AM	#1
jem Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 21	Deformed Adult Hermann Hi everyone, Need some advice please- I have taken in an adult male Hermann (12 years old). He is very lively, eating well, in fact he's one of the most alert tortoises I've ever seen. But, he has a deformed, in parts concave, carapace, with a hump above the front bow. The couple that owned him no doubt loved him to bits but very sadly fed him everything - biscuits!! His poo is tan colour and smells wrong - like poo. I have changed his diet to weeds etc, supplementing with calcium and nutrobal, scrubbed his 'polished' shell clean, filed down his overgrown beak and hopefully he will be in the garden today for a while (should be 16 degrees). I don't think he has ever been under uva/uvb lights. My question is am I missing out anything? Does he need extra of everything or just continue as I am. The sad thing is the lovely couple that owned him took him to the vets regularly. Still no excuse for not researching his diet. Sorry rant over, any advice welcome. Jem

10-03-2012, 07:24 AM	#2
16 shells Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hull Posts: 7,286	At a guess Jem i would change whatever like supplement's slowly, sound's like done a good job already. Many Tortoises have seemed to survive without masses of extra Uv, getting enough Uvb from somewhere diet maybe. If using any lamp's Uv wise, i would be inclined to introduce the hour's slowly, just a thought like to see what other's say . __________________ Paul.

10-03-2012, 01:38 PM	#4
SeeShell Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 3,120	Good luck Gem - lucky tort finding you. __________________ SS

11-03-2012, 03:55 PM	#6
knottyedge Member Hatchling Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: the Cotswolds,gloucestershire Posts: 619	hope all goes well with him __________________ X2 Greyhounds- Barnabas and Rufus x6 Spur Thighed Ibera's-Clover,Willow,Figwort, Radish,Pennywort and Bramble X1Tropical fish setup

11-03-2012, 10:40 PM	#9
jonesy Member Hatched Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Leamington Spa & Gwynedd Posts: 326	Have you considered taking it to a specialist tortoise vet just to get a once over. it may help __________________ Jonesy .................................................. .................................................. ................... Tortoise & Hedgehog Rehab, Supplier of Pre Alpin, readi grass, seeds, calcium & pouches for hedgehogs, rats, degus etc http://www.tortoiselady.co.uk http://www.hedgehoglady.co.uk http://www.gullrockfairbourne.co.uk Holiday home

10-03-2012, 06:49 PM	#5
gwenq Member Hatchling Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 507	Good luck with him.

11-03-2012, 05:05 PM	#7
tootsieroll61 Member Hatched Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 365	Hope all goes well

11-03-2012, 07:31 PM	#8
jem Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 21	Thank you for all the replies, I am going to take the advice and slow down the introduction of supplements. I am a little worried about his back legs. My other tortoises tuck their legs and feet in under their shells when resting only stretching out perhaps one leg when basking. This tortoise always rests with both his back legs fully extended - looking like someone sat on him. Also, his mouth looks ok inside, good pink colour when warm, but the 'lips' area is white. Any comments or advice welcome. Jem

12-03-2012, 08:24 PM	#10
Pembstort Member Egg Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 83	Poor thing

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