- 定期檢查表 Regular Checklist

每當行經籠子，養成檢查龜龜環境的習慣，例如：

• 溫度
• 濕度
• 龜龜是否安全, 有沒有反身, 鼻子有沒有吹泡泡等...

Form a habit to check on your tortoise whenever you pass him. Check the followings:

• readings of the thermometers
• reading of the hygrometer
• see if the tortoise is doing ok, not flipped over, not blowing bubbles from nose, etc.

浸龜時，留意龜龜的：

• 眼睛 (有沒有分泌物)
• 鼻子 (有沒有鼻涕，吹泡泡等等)
• 龜殼硬度 (有沒有變軟)
• 皮膚 (有沒有受傷)
• 指甲 (是否完整)
• 泄腔 (有沒有流血)，等等

While soaking, check these:

• eyes (heavy discharge?)
• nose (runny nose, blowing bubbles?)
• shell hardness (not soft and see if there is any change)
• skin (any lesion?)
• nails (all there?)
• cloaca (no blood), etc.
  

平日多觀察龜龜的：

• 步姿
• 飲食習慣
• 大小便頻率及其狀態*
• 定時量度和紀錄體重 (有沒有上升或最少保持體重)
• 有沒有便秘等等...

*便便的狀態可用作健康的指標。例如：肚痾可能是由於龜龜飲食不當或寄生蟲問題。 龜龜的大便應該是結實成形的，尿尿則以尿酸形式排出(濃度較高，因此損失的水分極少，牠們是沙漠動物呢)，呈半固態的白色狀態。若龜龜水份足夠，尿酸會較軟和浠(像蛋白)。相反，若龜龜缺水，尿酸會較硬和實 (像石頭, 但一按便散)。

And observe these:

• how he walks
• his eating and drinking habits
• frequency of passing out feces and urate and their forms *
• Weigh him regularly and record the wt (to see if he is gaining wt or at least maintaining his weight)
• any constipation, etc.

*The form of their dropping may indicate an health problem. For example, diarrhea can be caused by improper diet or intesinal disease such as excessive worm load. Droppings should be firm and well formed. Their urine is passed out as a form of urate (more concentrated) in order to save water as they are desert animals. Urate is in a white semi-solid form. It is soft and thin (like egg white) if the tort is hydrated, hard and thick (like stones but can be easily loosen when it is compressed) if the tort is dehydrated .

這些檢查均有助預先察覺到龜龜的健康狀態，龜龜和人類不同，要較慢才出現病徵。多了解龜龜的習性和生活習慣，留意有什麼變化，有問題及早看獸醫。注意不是每一位獸醫都對龜龜有治療經驗的，請小心選擇。

Do all these will help to detect any onset of sickness early. Unlike human, tortoises take a long time to show any symptoms. Know your tort's routine and behaviour. Any change may mean something. Take him to the vet if there is anything wrong. Not all vet are trained for reptiles. Be sure to pick one who is experienced in treating tortoises.