wandering tortoise

Re: wandering tortoise

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:44:19 GMT

Hi,

If the tortoise passed full clutch last year then all mature eggs should appear similar and so if the two were well calcified any others would have been clearly visible too.

I'm in Edgbaston, SW side of Birmingham.

Marie

Re: wandering tortoise

Gareth C. — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:38:22 GMT

yes the eggs were the only ones present, but will double check. I presume that they will all be present in more or less the same stage of calcification on the xrays. btw where are you based?

Re: wandering tortoise

Gareth C. — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:34:50 GMT

great thanks for that

Re: wandering tortoise

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:45:28 GMT

Latest studies from Brno suggest suprelorin is of little use in female reptiles though may have a very limited effect on androgen suppression in males. I haven't had any real response in the very few reptiles I have implanted it in to suppress reproduction so no longer use it. Surgery is the treatment of choice for reproductive suppression in my eyes (but then I'm biased as I am happiest in theatre!)

Marie

Re: wandering tortoise

Rob Davis — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:32:57 GMT

Can you use suprelorin in tortoises? It seems to be used in pretty much everything else!

PS Definitely not a reptile expert!

Re: wandering tortoise

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:32:29 GMT

Presumably the 2 eggs were the only ones present. Follicular stasis can also trigger the behavioural repertoire of a gravid female so a scan via the prefemoral fossa looking for spherical fluid/soft tissue densities will help identify a reproductive cause. Presence of both follicles and mature eggs at the same time is abnormal and is frequently associated with egg or follicle retention and failure of normal reproductive cycling. Bloods also frequently show elevated Ca, PO4, protein, triglycerides and cholesterol or may identify a separate pathology underlying the appetite change. Many of these tortoises end up needing ovariectomy so this may not be a simple fix.Also make sure there are no stress factors (e.g. dog running alongside the enclosure, birds circling overhead) that could stimulate activity as an escape response.

Marie