FAQ: Health for reptiles

It is a shell infection with soft, pitted, peeling or foul-smelling areas, often after shell damage or caused by dirty water or a lack of a dry basking spot. It must be assessed by a vet, and clean water and a chance to dry off completely under a lamp are key to prevention.

On a dry platform under a heat and UVB lamp the turtle warms up, dries its shell and skin and gets UVB. Without it shell and skin infections are more common, so the platform must let the turtle climb completely out of the water.

Swollen, closed or weeping eyes in water turtles are often linked to dirty water, vitamin A deficiency or infection. Such a turtle often stops eating too, so see a vet rather than trying eye drops on your own.

A conditioner neutralises the chlorine and some other substances in tap water, making new water safer for the turtle and the filter bacteria. Choose the amount according to the label and the tank volume.

Water tests show ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, which build up quickly in a turtle tank because turtles produce a lot of waste. Regular testing helps you change the water in time and avoid skin, eye and shell problems.

The water clouds because of food leftovers, droppings and an underpowered filter, especially if the turtle is fed in the same tank. A stronger filter, partial water changes and feeding in a separate container help, and cloudy water raises the risk of skin and eye infections.

Many keepers regularly soak tortoises in shallow lukewarm water, because they drink and empty their bowels then, which helps prevent dehydration. How often depends on the species, age and husbandry.

An overlong or crooked beak often means the tortoise eats food that is too soft or lacks calcium. Tougher plants, cuttlebone and rough surfaces help wear the beak down, and only a vet should trim it.

Claws wear down naturally on rougher surfaces, so stones or slabs in the enclosure are worthwhile, and long front claws are normal in males of some water turtles. Overgrown claws are best trimmed at the vet, as cutting them yourself can damage blood vessels.

The shell is living bone with blood vessels and nerves, so a crack or break is a serious injury. Keep the turtle somewhere clean, do not glue the shell yourself and see a vet as soon as possible.

Common signs are wheezing or gurgling, mucus or bubbles at the nose and mouth, open-mouth breathing, lethargy and loss of appetite. This needs a vet's examination, and a common cause is too low a temperature or the wrong humidity.

No, snakes normally breathe through the nose, so open-mouth breathing, especially with wheezing or mucus, may point to a respiratory infection. Check the temperature and humidity and see a vet.

Bearded dragons often gape while basking – it is how they regulate body temperature, and it is normal. But if the open mouth comes with wheezing, mucus, bubbles or lethargy, a vet is needed.

If a water turtle swims tilted to one side or cannot dive, it may point to a respiratory infection or another health problem. Such a turtle should be shown to a vet as soon as possible.

It is a mouth infection in which the gums are red or swollen, cheesy deposits, pus or blood can be seen, and the animal refuses food. Stress, the wrong temperature or injuries often contribute, so it needs a vet's treatment and a review of the husbandry.

Reptiles are cold-blooded, so in an enclosure that is too cold their digestion slows, their immunity weakens and infections spread more easily. That is why, when a reptile's health declines, it is always worth checking the temperature with a thermometer and consulting a vet.

No, antibiotics for reptiles are prescribed only by a vet, because the wrong medicine or dose can cause harm and encourage resistance. Besides, similar symptoms have different causes that must be identified by examination or tests.

Snakes sometimes soak before shedding or on a hot day, but long, constant soaking may point to an enclosure that is too hot, low humidity or mites. Check the snake and the bowl for mites and check the conditions.

Swollen eyes can be caused by dirt, irritating substrate, infection or vitamin A deficiency, especially in water turtles. A vet must find the cause, because giving vitamin A on your own can lead to an overdose.

Fine, dusty substrate can irritate the eyes and airways, so choose a less dusty, species-appropriate substrate. If the animal rubs its eyes or keeps them closed, check the substrate and see a vet.