How to trim a beak? Because the animal will sense that there is nothing underneath it, it might try to walk or start wiggling a little bit and there’s your opportunity!4) Please be patient with your shelled friends. 3) A nail file… By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Your herp vet is also an excellent source of information who can tell you if your tortoise needs a trim.An overgrown tortoise beak can be caused by nutritional secondary hyperparathyroid disease (a form of metabolic bone disease), malocclusion, inappropriate food items (usually all soft foods) and trauma.If you do suspect that your tortoise does have an overgrown beak, please have it evaluated by your herp veterinarian. TortoiseForum.org - Members give advice after another member’s tortoise had part of its bottom beak break off. However, because Backwater Reptiles accepts rescue animals, we do often receive turtles and tortoises who need to have this process taken care of right away.In this article, we’ll address these topics and answer the following questions:Luckily, you really don’t need many supplies to trim turtle or tortoise nails and the supplies are identical regardless of whether you’re using them on a turtle or a tortoise.In order to trim your turtle or tortoise’s nails or claws, you will need:1) Cat/Dog Nail trimmer OR human cuticle nail trimmer2) Paper towels or other soft pliable material such as a normal towelThe first step you’ll want to take when trimming your turtle or tortoise’s nails is to secure the animal safely and eliminate squirming and discomfort to the animal as much as you can. Never shake or jiggle your turtle or tortoise as this is not only stressful but could cause the animal injury. Any hints or suggestions on how to fix this or will she always have this issue. I’m picking up a Russian who really needs it’s beak trimmed. How to Trim a Tortoise Beak. TFO Admin. The best way for you to know if your tortoise needs a beak trim would be to closely examine your tortoise, and then compare the beak to healthy tortoises, and those in photos, as well. Please be patient with your pet and don’t attempt to trim their nails if you don’t feel you are capable and prepared for this measure. Like many bird species, tortoises can use a cuttlebone to chew or nibble on to keep their beak at bay.However, if you do find that you need to trim your pet’s beak, the first step is to secure the animal using the paper towels or other wrap. We don’t usually use the guillotine type of clippers as we find they provide less accuracy, particularly with terrestrial turtles and tortoises. Anyone do it themselves?I've seen people mention using a dremel, but that makes me nervous. How to trim a beak? You also want to avoid being scratched by the long nails, which is another reason why we do recommend wrapping the animal in a towel if possible.Some helpful tips and tricks for getting your turtle or tortoise to stick out a leg:1) Tickle the animal’s shell. Eventually, your turtle or tortoise will get tired and you will be able to get at their toes without much struggle.For your convenience and reference, we’ve included a brief video below demonstrating how we trim nails at the Backwater Reptiles facility.While it is true that several species of turtle (cooters, sliders, and three-toed box turtles to name a few) naturally have longer front nails as a sign of prowess or physical fitness, in captivity, these long nails can become a health hazard if they grow too much.Aquatic turtles can accidentally get their claws caught in filters or in carpet if you remove them from the tank for some exercise. To stop the tortoise from squirming relentlessly, wrap it in a towel.