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Fire ants attack Russian Tortoise

Posted By:

noahsboasandreptiles

Ok, I have a pair of Russian torts on a concrete block-made pen outside. I bought some hibiscus plants yesterday and planned to plant them, but rain did not let me. So today I go to take on the task, but could not find one of the torts. Well, somehow it got to the top of the plant pot of the hibiscus inside their pen, and got to the top of the blocks. Well, it fell through the block's open cell, and must have been inmobile for I don't know how long. It was attacked by fire ants. I quickly pulled it out and watered it with a hose to get the ants out. It's eyes are swollen and with whitening which I believe to be puss. It's been slow moving, and has not been able to open the eyes because of the swelling. Due to the swelling, and I guess it's innability to see, it has not eaten, but is moving around it's temporary pen inside the house. Anyone ever had this before, or treated a herp with fire ant bites?


Points:	150
Topics:	Skin , Medications , Eyes
Tags:	Ants, Eyes, Health, Parasites
Species:	Turtles and Tortoises > Tortoises > Testudo horsfieldii
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

9/10/2009 9:04:06 PM

FyreFocks

If you havent heard from Brad Waffa on this issue by the end of the night, send him a PM directly. He'll help you out.

Author Comment

9/10/2009 9:54:10 PM

noahsboasandreptiles

Hopefully he will respond. I need info on tortoises. Never been a tortoise owner until just recently, so I need help and advice on this issue.

Member Comment

9/11/2009 4:07:39 AM

shellboa

Don't fire ants have some kind of venom like bees? I'd recommend a vet check in the am just to be safe. Especially since they got its eyes.

Member Comment

9/11/2009 9:08:57 AM

JohnJohn

I would agree on the vet visit on this one. A vet might be able to give something anti-inflammatory.

Assisted Answer

9/11/2009 11:12:04 AM

Sonja K. Reptiles

My first thought was to get him soaking until you can get him to the vet - or at least call one and see what's advised.

Accepted Answer

9/11/2009 5:49:50 PM

Geckofactor

I've never had a turtle or tortoise attacked by fire ants but you could try hydrocortisone cream on his arms and legs or if you don't want to go that route use water and baking soda and apply it like a cream or paste also you could try just aloe. I would certainly try to get it to a vet though and see if they can do anything. Also it's a little late at this point but spraying the tortoise with water was probably a bad idea because fire ants usually just freak out and latch onto whatever they are on with their jaws when you spray them with water. If this has been several hours without contact from the ants he probably won't die due to the poison his kidneys should have probably filtered that out but if he seems to be getting worse and more lethargic then obviously they can't and he'll slowly die from kidney failure.

So basically if he's getting better or staying the same you're probably ok and just have to deal with the trauma of him getting bitten and starting to eat again and re-settled if he's getting worse head to the vet asap.

Member Comment

9/17/2009 12:07:27 PM

Sparkle

Noah, how is Mr. Turtle doing? Any updates?

Member Comment

1/17/2011 7:20:53 AM

abi21491

This question has had no activity for 14 days and will be closed by an administrator unless the original poster takes action.

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