Healthy Star tortoise
A baby Star tortoise will have pale creamy-coloured head and legs.
Both of its eyes will be bright and clear and it will open them when it is picked up or disturbed, they will not be swollen, the lids will not be stuck together and there will be no discharge (either clear or yellow) from them. Its nostrils will be clean and dry and there will not be bubbles coming from the nostrils.
There will be no clicking or wheezing when it breathes.
It will have a clean vent and there will be no signs of diarrhoea or foul smell coming from this area.
Its shell will perfect and have no damaged areas and there will be no liquid or smell coming from the joints between its scales. There will be no sores on its legs or swellings between its toes which would indicate infection.
It will be bright and alert and will retract its head and legs back into its shell when picked up. After a minute or two it will extend its head again and soon try to 'escape'.
It may urinate on your hand after a couple of minutes - this is an opportunity to check that its urine is clear and does not smell!
All young tortoises are a little shy - because of their small size they are vulnerable to predators in the wild - so their first natural reaction is to retract into their shell.
You should be able to observe the baby Star Tortoise you are interested in their display unit.
It may be walking around or feeding, or it may be 'asleep' in a corner
(Stars are usually active early morning and late afternoon to avoid the heat of the day where they come from) but once disturbed or picked up and put back again it will become alert and active.
Beware any tortoise that once disturbed remains inactive, immobile or listless, or appears weak and unable to move or which moves only with difficulty.
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Healthy Star tortoise
Labels: STAR TORTOISE, TORTOISE BASIC CARE
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