Strange looking shell, PROBLEM???

[Borys_Netasha]

I noticed today while bathing my tortoises that my female, Netasha, has a strange space around the bottom of her top layer of scales on her shell (see pictures). Is this abnormal, or anything to be concerned about??

She is eating and is active, not lethargic at all.

Her eye is still milky (http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Eye-problem?pid=179430#pid179430), but she now has a scar on the top of it, so I am assuming that is from a bite, as Borys used to bite her in the face.

Any and all help is highly appreciated!!!

Thank you!

 

[Yvonne G]

That is a great big band of new growth. Its not normal, but its also not harmful. Has she been eating too much lately? Both of your tortoises look like they would benefit from some real sunshine. Do you let them outside at all? Do you use a UV bulb?

 

[Borys_Netasha]

I wish I could let them outside, but with a German Shepard, a Pit/Lab, and 17 cats, the chance of something breaking into their inclosure is pretty high, and I'm not able to just sit with them all day. The most they get is when I turn the blinds so the afternoon sun can shine in on them. I think my light is a UVB...

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...por-bulbs/-/zoo-med-15-repti-sun-50-uvb-bulb/

This light is similar to what I have for them.

Netasha actually does eat, A LOT. Borys used to eat a ton, but he has gotten to where he doesn't eat as much anymore. I have tried skipping a day to get him to eat. But I guess he just doesn't want to some days. They are in the same enclosure, and she sometimes will butt him out of the way to get to the food bowl.

---

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...-bulbs/-/exo-terra-15-repti-glo-100-uvb-bulb/

This is actually closer to what I have in for them.

 

[mel262011]

I wish I could let them outside, but with a German Shepard, a Pit/Lab, and 17 cats, the chance of something breaking into their inclosure is pretty high, and I'm not able to just sit with them all day. The most they get is when I turn the blinds so the afternoon sun can shine in on them. I think my light is a UVB...

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...por-bulbs/-/zoo-med-15-repti-sun-50-uvb-bulb/

This light is similar to what I have for them.

Netasha actually does eat, A LOT. Borys used to eat a ton, but he has gotten to where he doesn't eat as much anymore. I have tried skipping a day to get him to eat. But I guess he just doesn't want to some days. They are in the same enclosure, and she sometimes will butt him out of the way to get to the food bowl.

---

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...-bulbs/-/exo-terra-15-repti-glo-100-uvb-bulb/

This is actually closer to what I have in for them.

---

Are you sure there is no bullying going on. I am asking because you said the male wasn't eating as much as he used to.

 

[Borys_Netasha]

They both kind of bully each other equally while eating. He was terrible when I first got them, which is why she has the messed up eye. But he was only aggressive while there was food. Now he just runs away from the food bowl, or will just stare at it, then wonders away. He is eating though, I watched him last night to be sure. I think he is just WAY pickier than she is. He mostly wants to eat only Romaine, and turnip greens. I discovered lately though that he enjoys carrots also, so I try to put some in there for him occasionally... Neither of them will eat squash, and they will eat Collards, but not like they do Romaine. They will refuse food for a while just because I think they know I will give them Romaine just to get them to eat... Could the Romaine make her grow suddenly like that??