NARES (nose) debris, overgrown beaks, startled response, male mating, and respiratory infections are six of the reasons tortoises make squeaks.
The first time I heard a tortoise squeak, I thought it was a sign of a respiratory infection.
There are a lot of reasons why tortoises squeak. In a review of self-reported cases, we found that 21.4 percent of 42 cases turned out to be a respiratory virus. 52.3 percent of the problems were solved by making the air more humid or hotter. The rest of the reports were attributed to other things.
Tortoise Squeaking when Breathing , in bath, at Night
There are many reasons why our exotic pet tortoises squeak, so let’s look at them in more depth now.
Help! There is a noise coming from my tortoise. Should I be afraid?
Tortoises make a lot of sounds. Your tortoise might make noises like squeaks or quacks, but this doesn’t mean that your pet is going to die any time soon.
Because the condition is so important to know, you need to know which of the many causes are at play.
You should always take your tortoise to a good vet if you’re worried about the sounds they make.
ALSO SEE: Can Tortoises eat Buttercups?
Getting a squeak from your tortoise should not make you start to panic right away.
Six of the most common reasons why a tortoise makes a squeaking sound are shown in this text.
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Nares or Squeaky Nose Sounds
Getting debris in the tortoise’s ears can make it squeak or quack, which can make it sound like it’s trying to get food (nose).
It can make weird noises when the tortoise breathes or exhales if a piece of dry substrate gets in its throat. The sound is sometimes called a whistle or squeak.
Sounds are made when there isn’t enough airflow through the nares. They should clear up in 24 hours. There might be something wrong with your pet. If not, you might want to ask a vet for help.
In fact, we’ve even heard from tortoise owners who say that this is a normal sound for their tortoise. This is what they say: The nose and throat of the tortoise are smaller than normal, which makes a whistling sound when they inhale quickly.
We think that your tortoise should go to the vet if it makes sounds that are part of its normal breathing cycle again and again. People don’t do this all the time.
Solution: If it does not pass in 24-48 hours, see the vet to be doubly sure.
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An Overgrown Beak Makes a Squeaky Noise.
If a tortoise has a beak that is too long, it can make squeaking and shaking noises. More often, it sounds like a click.
If your tortoise’s beak is too big and rubs against the bottom of its mouth, it could hurt. Depending on how hard you rub, you may hear the sound of squeaks or clicks.
If the beak starts to touch or grow past the chin, it usually needs to be cut. As a vet, your job is to do this quickly and quickly.
Solution: Make an appointment with the vet to have your tortoises beak trimmed. As a preventative, keep an aviary cuttlefish bone in the enclosure. Also feed your tortoise on a flat rock or clay pot dish to help with the natural wearing of the beak.
If you are comfortable with it, you can trim a tortoise’s beak at home.
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The Squeak That Comes When You Are Startled
Does the tortoise make a noise when you scare it by stepping on it? This is the sound that almost every tortoise owner has heard when they reach into their enclosure to get their tortoise.
There are some breeds of dogs that make this sound like a hissing noise, but it can also sound like a squeak.
When tortoises are startled, they react by rapidly pulling their legs and head into their shell for protection. When this happens, the tortoise has to let go of its breath so that it can move its limbs. The squeaky noise is caused by this quick exhalation.
Solution: It’s a good idea to get used to it, because this is a normal tortoise startle response. Try to make sure your tortoise sees you coming and not move too quickly until they get used to their routine.
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Squeaks when Mating
Is your tortoise old enough to be a man? Try to get him to mate may be the reason he makes that noise.
Male tortoises can make squeaking noises when they want to mate.
It doesn’t matter whether you have all male tortoises or one male tortoise. At the right time of year, they can try to mate with each other and even with things that aren’t alive.
Weird, right? But that’s true.
Solution: It’s a natural thing to do this. Get good at laughing.
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Environmental Issues
Tortoises come from a wide range of places. Knowing what kind of environment is best for your breed is very important for their health.
Some tortoises will make a whistling or squeaky sound if they live in a dry place. A tortoise that doesn’t get enough water could make a squeak or whistle when it breathes.
Solution: Keep your breed’s humidity level at the right level. As needed, wet the Substrate. For example, Russian tortoises like 40-50 percent humidity, while Sulcata’s prefer 80 percent humidity. Know your type.
It can also be caused by temperatures that are too low or right after a bath.
It is important to keep high enough temperatures for your tortoises.
Add or remove heat as needed to keep things at the right temperature. A Sulcata tortoise should be kept at 95F for basking and 80F for the cool side. In this case, the Respiratory Illness Squeaks.
Here we go. This is the big one that sounds scary.
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Squeaks or wheezing in tortoises can indicate a respiratory infection (RI) (RI).
You will want to check to see if any of the following symptoms are going on at the same time as the squeaking, wheezing, or quacking sounds.
The Tortoise has stopped eating and is lethargic.
There is a discharge or bubble at the nares beyond bath time.
If you look at this picture, you can see that the tortoise is bending its neck to take a breath.
With its mouth wide open, the tortoise is gasping for air.
There is a whistling sound when the tortoise breathes.
If you think your tortoise has a respiratory infection, make an appointment with the vet and bring it in to see them.
When RI is found early, it can be easily treated. When in doubt, call the vet.
Don’t be afraid, but your vet will put an antibiotic in the soft part of the tortoise’s leg or shoulder to help it get better.
People who hear a squeak and see any of the above symptoms should get their tortoise checked out by a vet as soon as possible.
Treatment for a Respiratory Infection
People who get infections from bacteria usually get some kind of medicine from their vet, but it’s not always the case. If you have a tortoise, you may also be told to make some changes to its environment.
If you have more than one tortoise, you might want to separate them so that the one that is sick can get better faster and keep the other tortoises from getting sick, too.
The animal might be able to fight the infection if the temperature in its cage is raised. You will need to wipe away any discharge from your pet’s nose to keep its nose from becoming blocked. This can make your pet more stressed and stop it from eating.
A warm soak can help to get rid of extra mucus from the nose, so it doesn’t run. Somewhere around 85F, you can put your tortoise in the water for a while. Once you get the tortoise out, tilt it gently to the side so that it can get rid of the extra mucus it has. Doing this every day will help your tortoise get better more quickly.
Do Tortoises make noises?
Yes, tortoises do make a lot of noises. Breeds make different noises, depending on how loud they are:
- Grunting
- Growling
- Squeaking \sWhistling
- Hissing
- Chirping \sClucking
- Clicking
- Barking
- Quacking
Why does a Tortoise Squeak while Breathing?
If the squeak is heard with each breath, it could be because of a blocked nose, the wrong temperature or humidity, or a respiratory infection. If the squeak doesn’t go away in 48 hours and there are no other symptoms, go to the vet. If there are multiple symptoms, see a vet as soon as possible.
How do I know my Tortoise beak is too Long?
Generally speaking, if the beak, the top jaw below the nose, covers the bottom jaw at the front, it’s time for a beak trimming. Your vet can do this without a lot of work.
Why does my Tortoise head bobs when it Breathes?
This is somewhat normal as the tortoise’s skeletal construction requires it to move to inhale and exhale. If you want to know more, check out our head-bobbing article!