Western Hermann's shell texture, is this normal?

[NE4 Reptiles]

Hi,
Could anybody please tell me if the rougher texture on the darker sections of these year old western hermanns shell is normal? Was sent pics from the seller, most other pics I've seen from other tortoises the shell texture appears pretty smooth.

Thanks in advance.

 

[zovick]

Hi,
Could anybody please tell me if the rougher texture on the darker sections of these year old western hermanns shell is normal? Was sent pics from the seller, most other pics I've seen from other tortoises the shell texture appears pretty smooth.

Thanks in advance.

View attachment 361375

Those bumpy looking areas are the original scutes which were all touching each other when the tortoise hatched. As the tortoise grows, the original sections become surrounded by the new growth which has the ridged appearance like the growth rings in a tree.

As the tortoise gets older and older, the original bumpy areas will gradually wear down and become smooth looking.