Soft Shell Leopard

[RandYGee]

About 3 months ago I purchased a leopard from a local breeder but within the last 2/3 weeks the shell has softened underneath . Any ideas on how I can get my Little Man's shell nice and healthy again. He's eating , but not as much still loves his soaks and has slowed his movements some . Thank All

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

welcome to the forum!!!! we need a bit more info. do you use a UVB light? whats his cage humidity at? how often do you soak him? maybe post some pics of what your worried about

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

also do you give him calcium supplements and whats his diet?

 

[RandYGee]

He's on a pretty good tortoise diet moistened , and mix it with mixed vegetables & calcium. I soak him just about every other day for 10-12 mins I'm in southern Cali and it's been a very warm summer . The UVB ugh that's the issue I was late added that and I think that's the cause of it . Oh and his humidity is between 40-60 .

 

[parrotlady]

It will help If you get your little one in the natural sunlight. That is providing the temperatures right. It could be your UVB bulb is not working properly.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-baby-sulcatas-shell-is-soft.45306/ i found this thread that has some good info. how soft is the shell, what can it be compared to?

 

[RandYGee]

Hmm. If I wear to gently push underneath his head would go in n' out ?? Kinda like a kids toy I guess you could say .

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

Hmm. If I wear to gently push underneath his head would go in n' out ?? Kinda like a kids toy I guess you could say .

what do you mean?

 

[RandYGee]

Thanks for the link very helpful . I think I'll try some liquid calcium and more sunshine it's cooling off more now . With more calcium and natural sunlight is that something that might turn his shell harder within days of I can be repaired or is it a longer process

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

is it possible for you to make an outside enclosure?

 

[RandYGee]

Actually I ordered one and it just arrived today so once the temps get above 70+ he'll be outside . Before that I did let him out to graze and walk around but not nearly enough as I should have

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

here is the leopard care sheet i would read the entire thing http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/

 

[Prairie Mom]

Hi RandYGee, I'm extremely new to tortoise keeping. I recently found a little Sulcata tortoise who is very similar in care to your leopard tortoise. My sulcata had several places on her shell that were VERY soft. I began giving her as much natural sunlight as the warm weather would allow. It's pretty cold where I live and there were days she was stuck inside, but I made a goal to give her at least two hours of sunlight whenever the weather was warm enough. I soaked her several times a day and began feeding her all the foods recommended in the links you've been provided. This diet sheet that a forum member sent me has a section of "Calcium power foods" : http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.64290/

I did everything I could to provide her natural sunlight and a varied diet heavy in grasses with as many of the calcium rich foods as possible. Now, only 1 MONTH later, those spots have hardened. It happened right before my eyes! I started seeing improvements in only a few weeks time. I did this without any reptile calcium supplements, which proves to me that tortoises really can thrive with real sunlight and healthy natural foods. I live in the cold, dry North. This winter, I will be using lots of uvb lighting and reptile calcium supplements with vitamin D3 to ensure she does not develop any calcium deficiency.

I highly recommend that you take your time and look through the different forum categories and you'll see helpful threads that have been "locked" at the top of the pages. Study them! They helped me so much! Check out the enclosure threads and confirm whether you are housing your leopard correctly as you make improvements to his health. Don't be afraid to ask questions whenever you don't understand something, the members on this forum can be so helpful!

 

[RandYGee]

Thank you very much for the link ! He's outside now as we speak . It's cooling off finally between 85-95 here in Cali so with his new outdoor pen he'll be out all day everyday . I'll keep you and the others readers posted .

 

[Prairie Mom]

Great news! Be sure to spoil us with lots of photos!