A healthy Tortoise is alert, active, and has a clean, smooth shell, clear eyes, and firm, strong legs. Here are some other signs of a Tortoise:
- Movement: A healthy Tortoise walks with the bottom of its shell clear of the ground, and moves quickly with strong strides.
- Eyes: A healthy Tortoise’s eyes are clear and bright, with no discharge.
- Nose: A healthy Tortoise’s nostrils are clear and dry, with no discharge.
- Mouth: A healthy Tortoise’s tongue is clear and pink, and not stained by food.
- Skin: A healthy Tortoise’s skin is free of injury, ticks, and mites.
- Tail: A healthy Tortoise’s tail is clean and dry, and not soiled with faeces.
- Faeces: A healthy Tortoise’s faeces are relatively firm, dry, and well formed.
- Urine: A healthy Tortoise’s urine is clear, but some plants, like dandelions, can cause it to turn temporarily pink.
If you have concerns about your Tortoise’s health, you should consult a reptile specialist vet. Some common health problems in Tortoises include:
- Stomatitis, also known as mouth rot, which causes swelling or colour change in the mouth and gums, and a white discharge around the mouth.
- Infectious diseases.
- Parasites.
- Stomach problems.
- Skin and shell problems.
