2 questions- sighing, beak trimming.

[linsee]

every once in a while my franklin makes a noise that sounds sort of like a sigh. i've noticed it more when she first gets up or when she's getting ready to sleep. i read some of the threads about respiratory  problems, but she does not have any other symptoms. her eyes are clear, no mucus, or gunk coming out of the nose. i just wondered if it was a normal thing or not?


okay, my franklin's beak is too long. i tried cuttlebone, she won't touch it. i put her food on rock and she moves it off to where she wants it. is this something i can trim myself, or does she need to go to a vet? i havent ever taken her to a vet in the 6 years i have had her, and trying to find one now is proving difficult. 

[Zookeeper]

every once in a while my franklin makes a noise that sounds sort of like a sigh. i've noticed it more when she first gets up or when she's getting ready to sleep. i read some of the threads about respiratory  problems, but she does not have any other symptoms. her eyes are clear, no mucus, or gunk coming out of the nose. i just wondered if it was a normal thing or not?

I wish I could help you with this one but I've never heard my torts make any kind of noise.

okay, my franklin's beak is too long. i tried cuttlebone, she won't touch it. i put her food on rock and she moves it off to where she wants it. is this something i can trim myself, or does she need to go to a vet?

William had a problem with his tort Lenins beak not to long ago and Turbotort suggested soaking the cuttlebone in strawberry juice.  Lenin chowed on the cuttlebone and it straightened the problem out.  You could try this.  If it doesn't work then I would make an appointment with a cretified Reptile vet.

i havent ever taken her to a vet in the 6 years i have had her, and trying to find one now is proving difficult. 

Have you tried this link:
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

[linsee]

when she first started making the noise, i was concerned and would run over to her enclosure to see what she was doing. she never looks distressed or anything when she does it. sometimes i wonder if her nose is itchy and she's trying to get it to stop. i dont know though.


i'm going to try that with the cuttlebone! i tried the leaving it outside when it rained thing, but she didnt seem to notice one bit.


thank link was really helpful, i found 2 vets that are less than 25 minutes away. thank you zookeeper!

[Zookeeper]

You're welcome.

[bunneh]

where does one purchase cuttlebone? I'd never even heard of it before coming here.....

[Jules]

where does one purchase cuttlebone? I'd never even heard of it before coming here.....

Any pet store, look at the bird section

[Zookeeper]

where does one purchase cuttlebone? I'd never even heard of it before coming here.....

Cuttlebone comes from the cuttle fish.  It is used as a calcium supplement for caged birds.  You can also purchase cuttlebone from Joe here:
http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/

[bunneh]

thanks!

how fast does the beak grow? I've only had my tort for about 2 weeks, and maybe i'm wrong but his beak seems longer than when we first got him!

[Zookeeper]

LOL!!!   I don't think they grow that quickly.  I had my first tort a year and three months before I found this site and she never had cuttlebone.  Her beak isn't overgrown and she's had the same piece of cuttlebone for a year and never attempted to gnaw on it.

[bunneh]

okay, maybe my brain/eyes are just playing tricks on me. haha. I'll still get him some cuttlebone, though.

[Zookeeper]

okay, maybe my brain/eyes are just playing tricks on me. haha.

NAH, you're just getting paranoid.

I'll still get him some cuttlebone, though.

That's a good idea.  Even if he doesn't use it to keep his beak worn down he can gnaw on it if he needs some extra calcium.

[baxter]

linsee, if the cuttlebone idea doesn't work, I wouldn't recommend trimming his beak yourself. I made the mistake of trying to trim Baxter's beak which didn't hurt him physically, but scared him to death and he was afraid of me for quite some time. So I will never attempt that again! I'd take franklin to the reptile vet if he needs it trimmed. That's my suggestion.