Only recently I have noticed these little swirls on his shell get worse, they were very faint before but now it has raised concern. He's still his chirpy self, I just hope this isnt a bad sign
Love, Esme and Torty x
Love, Esme and Torty x
guille24 said:One of my Russians has the same thing I put some athlete's foot Cream on the shell but the lines just don't go away , I notice they appear more visible after I soak my tortoise so I try not to get the top of the shell wet, after soaking my tortoise I let her dry and put some athlete's foot cream on the shell just in case
james1974 said:Do these lines disappear as they get older?Does over feeding and humidity play a role in these lines?Im real curious about this...
Tom said:james1974 said:Do these lines disappear as they get older?Does over feeding and humidity play a role in these lines?Im real curious about this...
I don't think they disappear. I don't think whatever these lines are doing stops happening. I just think they get harder to see as the shell thickens and weathers with age.
I don't think food has anything to do with these lines. Not sure about humidity. Because the lines become more visible during or after a soak, I suspect humidity might have some effect on them, but I can't say with any certainty. I see these lines the most right after a soak, after my tortoises have been outside sunning in my hot dry climate. Its like the sun and lack of humidity dries the shell out, and the soak water rehydrates the shell and these squiggly lines become very obvious. If the tortoises have been in their humid enclosures and I soak them, the lines aren't nearly so noticeable. I do not have an explanation for this. Only sharing my observations. I see these lines on young russians, sulcatas, and CDTs. All burrowing species BTW. These lines are absent or not as noticeable on leopards, stars or pancakes.