Tortoise head fixation and mouth opening

There are several options for how to get and fix the turtle’s head:

1. In weak and small turtles, the head can be pulled out from under the shell with the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, which are inserted deep between the front paws. 2. If the turtle has covered its head with its paws, then first the paws are pulled out with the use of force and pressed against the shell, then the head is pulled out. 3. The turtle can be tickled in the area of the cloaca and thighs, then it will probably stretch its neck.

4. The turtle with its front paws fixed is lowered into a vessel with warm water, below the liquid level, the frightened turtle should stretch its head. 5. You can pull out the head with the help of special tools, or by using muscle relaxants or sedatives.

The turtle should not see the fingers of a person, so it is better to pull your hands towards it from the side of the shell, and not the nose.

One hand fixation: the index finger of the left hand quickly presses the head behind the left cheek of the turtle to the right paw.

With two hands: both index fingers are quickly inserted behind the occipital part of the head from both sides and push the head forward. The thumb and forefinger of the left hand intercept the neck of the turtle immediately behind the head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnhMihXlSTk

mouth opening

In reptiles, the mouth is opened when the fingers are already securely fixing the head. To open the mouth of small reptiles, a strip of thick paper or a match is used, which they try to insert into the oral cavity from the front, holding it obliquely. In large turtles, the mouth is opened with a spatula (you can also use a plastic card, a metal nail file, and in extreme cases a table knife), which is set with the narrow end forward at a sharp, open anterior angle to the midline of the head and somewhat from the bottom up. When the mouth opens, the spatula is turned perpendicular to its original position, its plane should be vertical and prevent the jaws from closing.

“Whoever has to open his mouth, during this procedure it is advisable to talk to animals, ask them to open their mouths. However, those to whom I had to give medication, on the third or fourth day of treatment, they stopped clenching their jaws strongly. And they did the same with re-treatment. Be that as it may, with gentle handling of the animal, the stress will not be so strong. (c) Turtle.ru forum member