Allergic to my tortoise???

[cliffgutierrez]

Hello,
After 4 weeks of getting my tortoise, I have developed an allergy on the skin of my chest neck and face. The skin is itching and burning. Do you think it is possible to become allergic?

[Nina]

I think it is much more likely that your allergic reaction is to something other than the tortoise. Is there anything else that could have triggered that reaction (change of detergent, a particular food that you might be allergic to)? I have just checked some veterinary handbooks and it seems that tortoises do not cause an allergic reaction (feathers and fur can cause an allergic reaction but not scales and shells). So if you really think that it could be something connected with your tortoise that is causing your skin to itch, etc. then it is most likely the substrate you are using in your tortoise's enclosure or something else surrounding him. What substrate are you using?

Nina