Like the tortoise beak, Russian tortoises should naturally file their nails. Day-to-day activities should wear down the nails without you ever needing to trim them. However, like the beak, this isn’t always the case. Since the nail length is very important, it’s important for you to consider the tortoise nail length as a part of your pet tortoise’s overall health. If the nails are too long, the tortoise cannot complete certain day-to-day tasks.
Importance of Tortoise Nails
Nails are important for most animals. Having claws can help survival from predators, finding food, tearing tough foods, digging burrows, and more. If the nails are too long, they can get in the way and be troublesome for a tortoise. If the tortoise nails are too short, it can be troublesome to complete certain tasks.
Russian tortoises use their nails to dig burrows to lay eggs, hide from threats and hibernate. A tortoise’s burrow is important, especially in outdoor enclosures, as without a good burrow, the tortoise is vulnerable to predators and weather. It can also be stressful to not have a secure place to rest or hide. Russian tortoises also use their burrows to help regulate their body temperatures. Tortoises need a good place to cool off when the weather is too hot and a dark, cool burrow is perfect for just that. Without nails to be able to dig a good burrow, a Russian tortoise can overheat.
Tortoises also use their nails to help rip foods that are too long or tough. Sometimes tortoises will take a bite of their dinner and it prove to be too much. They’ll use their nails to tear the food for a smaller bite.
Russian tortoise nails help create overall traction when they walk and climb.
Should I Trim My Russian Tortoise’s Nails?
In the wild, you won’t see anyone out hunting tortoises to check their nails. As long as the tortoise is getting enough exercise, the tortoise nails should wear down naturally. Although, the habitat or pet tortoises is a little different than wild tortoises, you still shouldn’t need to trim your pet tortoise’s nails.
The tortoise nail should have some length on them. An obvious sign that the nails need to be trimmed is if you notice a curl.
How To Trim My Tortoise’s Nails
In order to safely trim your tortoise’s nails, you’ll need a towel, good lighting and sharp clippers.
- Wrap your tortoise in the towel so that you can get a firm grip. If you’re struggling, try to get a partner to do this for you.
- In good lighting, carefully look at each nail. You should see the “quick,” which is the nerve inside the nail. You do not want to cut the “quick.” It’s very sensitive and will cause bleeding.
- Trim tiny slivers at a time. Get close to the nail’s “quick”, but not too close where you may accidentally snip it. You will need to apply a good bit of pressure to cut through the nail.
Your Russian tortoise will likely retreat inside its shell or it may kick. In both cases, you’ll likely find it difficult to trim your Russian tortoise’s nails. Again, this is where a partner can really help steady the tortoise while you assess each nail and trim it.
Tortoise nails are hard, so using clippers may not always be an option for you. If using clippers isn’t working out or it’s making you uncomfortable, try a file. It will take much longer to file the nails. You can use a hand file or a Dremel rotary tool. If using a Dremel tool, be careful and slow, as you can do damage to your tortoise if you slip.
