Hello and welcome. Your tortoise looks extremely dry - do you normally soak him at all ? That would help make the problem more visible, for a start. Is he eating well ? I hope you will hear from some more knowledgeable members soon - meanwhile, best wishesHello all. I have a 15 year old (maybe more??) Sulcata who has peeling skin on both front legs revealing white/pink raw skin underneath. We live in the desert so I'm wondering if he's super dry or if he has a fungus situation. Anyone know what this is? Pics below.View attachment 345530View attachment 345531View attachment 345532View attachment 345533View attachment 345534
That looks like rodent damage. Where does your tortoise sleep at night?Hello all. I have a 15 year old (maybe more??) Sulcata who has peeling skin on both front legs revealing white/pink raw skin underneath. We live in the desert so I'm wondering if he's super dry or if he has a fungus situation. Anyone know what this is? Pics below.View attachment 345530View attachment 345531View attachment 345532View attachment 345533View attachment 345534
Its usually not ground squirrels because they are active in the day and the tortoise will fight and defend itself during a warm day when the squirrels would also be active. This is usually the result of rats at night when the tortoise is cold and sleeping. They are eating your tortoise.I do think that it's possible that ground squirrels could get to him. But I'm alarmed by how much of his skin is now peeling off. Are they trying to take his skin?!
Ah -- just saw the link to the light box. Looking now.Its usually not ground squirrels because they are active in the day and the tortoise will fight and defend itself during a warm day when the squirrels would also be active. This is usually the result of rats at night when the tortoise is cold and sleeping. They are eating your tortoise.
Again, where does your tortoise sleep at night. If he is outside, it is much too cold. They need to be no lower than 80 degrees at night. A night box like this will keep your tortoise warm and also protect it from rodents and other predators at night. They also like to use the box to escape the heat on hot summer days and the cold on winter days.
Single Tortoise Night Box
I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...tortoiseforum.org
What part of CA are you in. Very different advice for Big Bear vs. Palm Springs.
To treat that, I would do a one time Betadine scrub to disinfect it, and then spray it daily with some Veterycin for a few days.
For sure we'll do it, but for tonight we're going to have to do our best to keep them out. Urgh.Is it possible to modify his night box so you can close the door at night to keep rats out?
I would bring him inside and keep him in your bathtub. And you need to be sure the rats aren't nesting somewhere in your enclosure.For sure we'll do it, but for tonight we're going to have to do our best to keep them out. Urgh.
Time and good living conditions.Is there anything I can do to help him regrow his skin/spurs? Any supplements etc?
Months or years.Time-wise, what should we expect?
That is urates. It is a sign that your tortoise is dehydrated. You need to soak him daily for a couple of weeks for 40-60 minutes, and then cut it back to two or three times a week over the rest of the hot summer. You can also add opuntia, cucumber, lettuce, and water(sprayed on the food) to the diet to help with hydration. Humidifying the heated night box will also help to lose less water through respiration.We had him overnight inside and found this in the morning. What is this?!