Flaring/Upturning Shell Edge

BAMJ

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Overview: Hi there! I'm looking for some experienced opinions. Attached are some pictures of my little Hermanns (please excuse the calcidust on her bottom, she's been roaming) - I'm a little worried as I've noticed the edge of the back of her shell is slightly flared/turned upwards (she's around a year old)

Diet: She's currently on a mixture of weeds and plants from the garden, with alternating calcidust and nutrobal each day.

Lighting: she's currently under a combi bulb 100W however I'm changing to a strip bulb and basking bulb.

General: she roams a lot, loves to eat and has a bath 3 times a week.
IMG_20210502_163243.jpgIMG_20210502_163239.jpgIMG_20210502_163248.jpgThank you for your help! I'm a first time tortoise parent so would really appreciate any advice you have.
 

BAMJ

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A bit of this is completely normal you should look up pictures of adults
I saw one earlier and started to think it may be normal but just wanted to check. Thank you so much, lifting a weight off my shoulders!!
 

Jannra

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I saw one earlier and started to think it may be normal but just wanted to check. Thank you so much, lifting a weight off my shoulders!!
No problem? my little guy or gal is just 14 months and is beginning to have a little bit of flaring.
 

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Jannra

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Thank you. Michealangelo's my little baby got him last year but this time as an anniversary gift for my husband. Before this I've only had aquatic Turtles. I put a about half a year into researching Hermann tortoises before my husband bought this little one for me. Your little one is adorable too.
 

BAMJ

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Thank you. Michealangelo's my little baby got him last year but this time as an anniversary gift for my husband. Before this I've only had a chronic Turtles I put a about half a year into researching Hermann tortoises before my husband bought this little one for me. Your little one is adorable too.
I love the name!! And that's so sweet. I got Lucy last year as I had always wanted a tortoise, they have such personalities. Thank you!!
 

KarenSoCal

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No problem? my little guy or gal is just 14 months and is beginning to have a little bit of flaring.

Overview: Hi there! I'm looking for some experienced opinions. Attached are some pictures of my little Hermanns (please excuse the calcidust on her bottom, she's been roaming) - I'm a little worried as I've noticed the edge of the back of her shell is slightly flared/turned upwards (she's around a year old)
I'm not much help on this, but flaring is a sign of something.

The problem is that I don't remember what it is. I'm going to do a bit of research.
 

KarenSoCal

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It is one of the characteristics of certain tortoise species. This is very interesting.

 

BAMJ

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It is one of the characteristics of certain tortoise species. This is very interesting.

Oh wow that's really interesting that she's showing characteristics of a Marginated tortoise ? very strange. Thank you so much for sharing that with me, it's really helpful!
 

Lyn W

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Hi and welcome,
This is the most up to date care advice for your tort and if you follow that then your tort should be happy and healthy.

The combi (MVB) bulbs have been found to dry and damage shells so the sooner you can change the better. T5 HO tubes are mainly recommended now - the caresheet will give more information
Does he have any outside time in the summer?
 

BAMJ

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Hi and welcome,
This is the most up to date care advice for your tort and if you follow that then your tort should be happy and healthy.

The combi (MVB) bulbs have been found to dry and damage shells so the sooner you can change the better. T5 HO tubes are mainly recommended now - the caresheet will give more information
Does he have any outside time in the summer?
Hi there,

Currently she has a basic run but I’m building her a nice outdoor garden at the moment!! Ahh thank you, would you recommend a basking bulb alongside the T5 (of thats a strip bulb)?

Many thanks!!
 

TaylorTortoise

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Overview: Hi there! I'm looking for some experienced opinions. Attached are some pictures of my little Hermanns (please excuse the calcidust on her bottom, she's been roaming) - I'm a little worried as I've noticed the edge of the back of her shell is slightly flared/turned upwards (she's around a year old)

Diet: She's currently on a mixture of weeds and plants from the garden, with alternating calcidust and nutrobal each day.

Lighting: she's currently under a combi bulb 100W however I'm changing to a strip bulb and basking bulb.

General: she roams a lot, loves to eat and has a bath 3 times a week.
View attachment 324368View attachment 324369View attachment 324370Thank you for your help! I'm a first time tortoise parent so would really appreciate any advice you have.
It's entirely normal!
It's just new growth and it's natural to appear like that. It might feel weird or different if you run your fingers across it but it's definitely apart of how they just grow.
 

BAMJ

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It's entirely normal!
It's just new growth and it's natural to appear like that. It might feel weird or different if you run your fingers across it but it's definitely apart of how they just grow.
Thank you so much!! Did have a right panic when I first noticed it, thinking I had been doing something incorrectly or was being negligent somehow! Glad it's normal :)
 

Lyn W

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Hi there,

Currently she has a basic run but I’m building her a nice outdoor garden at the moment!! Ahh thank you, would you recommend a basking bulb alongside the T5 (of thats a strip bulb)?

Many thanks!!
The tubes is just for uvb, so yes a basking bulb will be needed, but not the spot bubs, try to get a flood type.
The caresheet may say more about that.
Avoid any cfl or curly types as these have been found to damage tort eyes
 

Jannra

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What kind do you have?
I am waiting for a western hermann tortoise to arrive in the mail.
The breeder didn't know Western or Eastern just that they're the smallest kind that he breeds. Given what I've looked at for identifying I think it's actually probably a mix of Western and Eastern. Not sure though mine actually only has 4 instead of 5 vertebral scutes so it doesn't have the one scute that is most major for identification. From what I understand the bit of brown looking area near the distinctive black zones probably means that he/she is a mix
 

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TaylorTortoise

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The breeder didn't know Western or Eastern just that they're the smallest kind that he breeds. Given what I've looked at for identifying I think it's actually probably a mix of Western and Eastern. Not sure though mine actually only has 4 instead of 5 vertebral scutes so it doesn't have the one scute that is most major for identification. From what I understand the bit of brown looking area near the distinctive black zones probably means that he/she is a mix
Oh wow! yes beautiful. It does look like a bit of a mix? Possibly of the Menorca locale of the westernns side.
 
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