Need Help Diagnosing my Sulcatas new shell growth

Hi! My name is Rachel and I have a 5 year old Sulcata named Noble who I have had since he hatched. He has always had a proper diet of the special fortified tortoise pellets (high fiber) and calcium and proper lighting. His shell has always looked great, no pyramiding etc. Eventually I moved to a place that had a small patio about a year ago and decided it was time for him to graduate to outdoor living. He still had his lights and diet and everything but his shell began to split where the growth lines are and I can not figure out what I'm doing wrong. He now lives outside in a good sized yard. Still gets fed his zoomed pellets soaked in water + calcium (plus any veggies/fruits as treats and outdoor grass). He has a ceramic heat "lamp" in a doghouse with his white light on a timer (I figured maybe he still needed it since his shell was acting up even though he lives outside now) I give him showers and he has water outside. Maybe I need to do more extensive soaking since the sunlight is more radiant? I have no idea what's wrong and I don't want it to get worse Here is an up close of his shell (best I have till Roomie can send some more) and a pic of him at the river for fun because I'm new to the tortoise forum Any other advice on tortoise care is awesome! I love my little man and want to give him the best life possible. Thank you!

I'm not sure, but I think that's the desiccating effects of an indoor light that's too close to the top of the shell. Try lubricating the lines with either olive oil or cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil.

(...Oh, and - Welcome to the Forum!)

Ok that would make sense, when I first had him outside his little house was small. Do you know how far the light should be? Right now his white light sits about 6-9 inches from him. I do oil him on occasion but I will oil him extra to help. Thank you!

At the very minimum 12". If you want to continue with the same 'house' set up, you should look into using an infra red heat panel like this:

Where do you and Noble live? All of my tortoises get some bad shell stuff going on when I move them outside full time too. Its too dry where I am so I have to take steps to hep them. I humidify their heated night boxes, soak them more often and spray their shells often. Giving them a burrow to live in during the warmer months helps too.

I usually see the bad growth down on the sides, so I think Yvonne is correct in suspecting your un-needed over head lighting. I have seen so many "slow-burned" carapaces from over head bulbs and ceramic heat emitter in "dog house" type set ups.

Here are some examples of full-time outdoor night houses that will NOT harm your tortoise:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/daisys-new-enclosure.28662/

I made this one for my russians, but it could be made larger to suit a growing sulcata. I've done this style at 4x4' in the past for giant lizards:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/semi-underground-russian-box.98590/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/heating-an-outdoor-russian-night-box.116180/

Rachel Fritz said:

Do you know how far the light should be?

Click to expand...

Only your thermometer can answer that. Every enclosure and every situation is different.

Hmmm okay. Yea right now he is in a pretty good sized dog house but I will definitely look into building him a bigger one. He has his new ceramic heat emitter which is pretty high, is that an okay heat source? I'll measure it when I get home. Does he still need his white light in his house or is the outdoor sunlight enough? I live in Santa Cruz so the climate is moist because of the Ocean and he never seems "dried out" but I will definitely increase his soaks and do some oil therapy. Get me some help building a proper lil house for him.

Well I guess not a bigger home per say but one that is more fit for him.

Gosh thanks you guys this is just awesome! I don't know any other tortoise owners and am so glad to have people to connect with like this.

Rachel Fritz said:

Hmmm okay. Yea right now he is in a pretty good sized dog house but I will definitely look into building him a bigger one. He has his new ceramic heat emitter which is pretty high, is that an okay heat source? I'll measure it when I get home. Does he still need his white light in his house or is the outdoor sunlight enough? I live in Santa Cruz so the climate is moist because of the Ocean and he never seems "dried out" but I will definitely increase his soaks and do some oil therapy. Get me some help building a proper lil house for him.

Click to expand...

He does not need a light in there.

You need a thermometer to tell you if the CHE is okay where it is, or not? Personally, I used to uses those, but I see carapace problems with so many of the tortoises kept under them, like yours, that I won't use them anymore. The options I showed are easy to get and work well with no damage to the carapace.

Be aware that "dog houses" don't work well for tortoises. They are not designed well for our purposes and as a result, they don't preform well for our purposes. Custom building a properly insulted and sealed house is by far the best way to go. Lots of people here have done it and we will help you along the way.

Alright, I'll take the light out when I get home to my little man. The ceramic heat emitter is okay though right? As long as it's far away enough right? It keeps him warm at night. And I'll begin to make his new home

ok so this is not Noble but this is the exact same dog house and relative size to what noble is. You guys are saying something more insulated and a higher ceiling for his ceramic heat emitter? I'll keep doing research here on the forums if no one responds.

Rachel Fritz said:

View attachment 137234 ok so this is not Noble but this is the exact same dog house and relative size to what noble is. You guys are saying something more insulated and a higher ceiling for his ceramic heat emitter? I'll keep doing research here on the forums if no one responds.

Click to expand...

Somewhere Tom has some threads on some outdoor night boxes he built. If u can find them.