Steve:

Sam,
We are having a lot of problems with mosquitoes harassing our Aldabras. Do you know of a spray or other way of protecting our torts from these mosquitoes? Any suggestions? Thanks.

Sam:

I spray OFF on them (watch their eyes) you can also try Scarlet oil on their legs and shell.

Steve:

My 19 inch Aldabra tortoise just hasn’t been moving a lot. She looks okay , and will finch if you rub her. She also will drink water if you put it by her.  There is no foaming at the mouth or mucous running out of her nose. She just doesn’t seem to have a lot of energy or strength. If she does walk she doesn’t get up high she just kind of moves herself just off the ground a little. Do you have any thoughts on what might be happening? She hasn’t pooped recently either. Thanks.

Sam:

Hi Steve, sorry to hear about your troubles. Let's get this figured out.

There are three parts to what I want to accomplish:

General information: 

History:

Strength Test:

Treatment for Constipation:

General Information 

Is she eating?

Isolate her, clean the enclosure so we are sure if she produces any stool.

You have to do a strength test, that will determine how sick she is. An animal can just sit off to the side, eat a little and not move around much, but you really can't tell how sick she is and we need to know that.

Drag her out into the yard and try pulling on her legs. You should not be able to stop her from pulling them out of your grip and retracting them into her shell.

Now try the same thing with her head, how far can you pull it out? Does she have the strength to pull her head back into her shell?

During this process, watch her reactions. They should be sharp and fast, not delayed or slow how soon does she react to you? If you walk up on her, does she notice you or does she sit there with her eyes closed? When she wakes up does she immediately react or is she slow to to come out of it?

Watch her walk. A healthy tortoise gets her body off the ground and can wak high for a long time. A sick tortoise drags her back legs or drags her back shell. It's all about the back legs.

How far can she walk? A sick tortoise will take a few steps, then sit, doesn then get back up take a few steps and sit back down.

Check the eyes. Are they clear and open or are they slimy, crusted, or clogged with mucus and shut?

History:

Describe where the animals are living. Inside or outside, and what substrate they are on.

What has been their diet?

Describe the event you believe you are witnessing.

A Strength Test Guide for Herpetologist & Veterinarians
Sam Pascucci 11/09/2017

Introduction

We often encounter species that require specialized knowledge for proper assessment. 
This guide focuses on evaluating a tortoise's health through strength testing, a crucial procedure for determining the severity of illness in these unique reptiles.

Preliminary Steps

1. Observe eating habits: Is the tortoise eating normally?
2. Isolate the tortoise and clean its enclosure thoroughly to monitor stool production.

Strength Test Procedure
Limb Strength Assessment

• Drag the tortoise out into an open area, such as a yard.
• Attempt to pull on the tortoise's legs.
• A healthy tortoise should be able to retract its legs into its shell against your grip.

Head Strength Evaluation

• Try to gently extend the tortoise's head.
• Note how far you can pull it out.
• Assess the tortoise's ability to retract its head into the shell.

Reaction Time and Alertness

• Observe the tortoise's reactions during handling; they should be sharp and fast.
• Approach the tortoise and note if it notices you or remains stationary with closed eyes.
• When the tortoise wakes, evaluate how quickly it becomes alert and active.

Mobility Assessment

• Watch the tortoise walk:A healthy tortoise should lift its body off the ground and maintain an elevated posture for an extended period.Look for signs of illness: dragging back legs or shell, taking only a few steps before resting.
• Evaluate walking endurance: A sick tortoise will take a few steps, then sit down repeatedly.

Eye Examination

• Check if the eyes are clear and open.
• Look for signs of illness: sliminess, crusting, or clogged with mucus and shut.

Additional Diagnostic Steps

• Collect any stool produced during the evaluation.
• Store stool samples in a bag with a couple of drops of water in the refrigerator for further testing.
• Refer to the attached care sheet for treating constipation and other diagnostic procedures.

Conclusion

This strength test provides valuable insights into a tortoise's overall health. Remember, a tortoise may appear to be eating and moving slightly, but these tests help determine the true extent of illness. 

Always consider the complete picture of the tortoise's behavior, strength, and physical condition when making a diagnosis.

This guide serves as a starting point for assessing tortoise health. For complex cases or if you're unsure about the results, you can contact me directly.

I am attaching my care sheet for treating constipation and other diagnostics.
 

Save and stool that is produced you can keep it in a baggie with a couple of drops of water in the refrigerator.

(If you are reading this as a blog, you can e-mail me for the care sheet attachment.)