Tortoise shell...

[lskaife]

Hello everyone, this is Bardi, I just got him and I am unsure if his shell looks okay??

 

[lskaife]

i am a new owner to a russian tortoise, does this shell look healthy? what am i looking for in a healthy shell??

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. Looks good to me for the age he probably is. Wild caught most Lille and between 6-8, possibly older. Wide growth line. Not sure what causes that, possibly poor diet. Maybe @Tom or @Yvonne G can confirm the reason for such a wide growth line.

 

[lskaife]

are you saying 6-8 months or 6-8 years???

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

are you saying 6-8 months or 6-8 years???

6-8 years is what Wellington was saying.

Looks like there was a period of rapid growth in the recent past.

 

[lskaife]

is my tortoise in any danger with the apperance of his shell?

 

[lskaife]

does this mean he is unhealthy? should i be doing anythig?

 

[Tom]

Your tortoises shell looks fine.

The lighter area between the new scutes and the light colored ring indicates a recent growth spurt. That is good. It means he's been eating eel and he's healthy.

Check these out for some helpful tips:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[lskaife]

awesome, thank you so much, he hasnt eaten much since i brought him home, but thinking that he is still adapting. thanks for your help!!

 

[martaemha]

Your tort looks fine Must have been growing rapidly recently. Make sure you give him good calcium supplement. When torts grow rapidly and lack this element they may be in danger of MBD.

 

[lskaife]

ok, great this is so good to hear. He has only been with me for 2 days, hasnt been eating a whole lot, but i am adding calcium daily to his diet, and a cuttle bone is available..is this good? ive got a uvb bulb also from zoo med in the same lamp as a basking bulb. i had seen urine with urates when i brought him home friday, but have not found any since and no poop. he also hasnt peed or pooped in his soaks, hoping he is still just adjusting.

 

[martaemha]

It's only few days. Your tort needs time. My adult tort needed over two weeks to venture out of his burrow when I got her. You don't know what his diet was before you got him, maybe they fed him some pellets that gave him constipation for example (in this case soaks should help). Just give him time. Calcium and cuttle bone is good. With good conditions everything should be back to normal shortly. If the symptoms that are troubling you persist, you might want to see a good vet for a check up, just to make sure everything is fine with your tort.

 

[Tom]

ok, great this is so good to hear. He has only been with me for 2 days, hasnt been eating a whole lot, but i am adding calcium daily to his diet, and a cuttle bone is available..is this good? ive got a uvb bulb also from zoo med in the same lamp as a basking bulb. i had seen urine with urates when i brought him home friday, but have not found any since and no poop. he also hasnt peed or pooped in his soaks, hoping he is still just adjusting.

If your ZooMed bulb is the cfl type, turn it off ASAP. Those can sometimes burn their eyes and they should not be sold. This might be why he is not eating and staying inactive.

These might help you:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[lskaife]

thankyou for all your knowledge!!!

 

[lskaife]

cfl type?

 

[Tom]

cfl type?

Compact florescent lamp. The coil types that screw into a regular light bulb fixture. Bad news...

 

[lskaife]

ok, so what should i be using?

 

[Tom]

ok, so what should i be using?

Please read the care sheet. Its all explained there. There are multiple ways to do it depending on where you are and what your situation is.

The main thing that is needed immediately and daily is basking heat. They can go a few weeks with no UV while you figure out which strategy will work best for you in your area.