Cracked shell. new owner of russian tortoise

[Supriya Bharath]

My russian tortoise's shell seems to be cracking. i am new to tortoises and i am worried that i am not looking after her right. I do add calcium supplement in her food but how much should i be adding? I fed her every day (20mins worth of greens). She does not seem to spend much time under the heat lamp either. She leaves all the supplement i add with greens, how ever well i mix it. What should i do?

 

[mike taylor]

Most Russian Tortoises are wild caught so some of that is normal . You can help a little by adding humidity . Check out Tom's care sheets in the Russian section .

 

[Eggtort]

I can't give any advice on how to completely fix it, but I can add suggestions for an alternative to supplements? This sounds like a powdered supplement. Have you tried cuttlefish bone yet? Also how is your soaking schedule?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi,and welcome to the forum!

Your new wild-caught Russian tortoise might benefit from a shell topical. I don't normally advise using topicals on tortoise shells, but your tortoise's shell looks very dry. You can either use cold pressed, extra virgin coconut oil or mineral oil. Put a bit n the shell and rub it in well. Allow it to soak in for a half hour or so, then polish it all off with an absorbent cloth. Don't leave it on because it attracts dirt.

 

[Supriya Bharath]

Thank you Yvonne. I will try that for a few days. She is not eating the calcium supplement i put over the greens for her. She either leaves those leaves or dusts them off. How do I make her eat the calcium?

Hi,and welcome to the forum!

Your new wild-caught Russian tortoise might benefit from a shell topical. I don't normally advise using topicals on tortoise shells, but your tortoise's shell looks very dry. You can either use cold pressed, extra virgin coconut oil or mineral oil. Put a bit n the shell and rub it in well. Allow it to soak in for a half hour or so, then polish it all off with an absorbent cloth. Don't leave it on because it attracts dirt.

 

[Supriya Bharath]

Hi Eggtort, yes please. any suggestion is welcome. I am using the Zoomed Natural grassland tortoise food and reptile calcium with D3. This was suggested to me by an employee at PetSmart.

I can't give any advice on how to completely fix it, but I can add suggestions for an alternative to supplements? This sounds like a powdered supplement. Have you tried cuttlefish bone yet? Also how is your soaking schedule?

 

[Yvonne G]

Thank you Yvonne. I will try that for a few days. She is not eating the calcium supplement i put over the greens for her. She either leaves those leaves or dusts them off. How do I make her eat the calcium?

Don't use so much. They don't like the taste or smell of it, so you only use a very tiny pinch between your thumb and index finger, then mix it up well so it's not visible and is spread out all over the leaves.

 

[Supriya Bharath]

Thank you Yvonne. I will try adding a very tiny bit and see if he will eat it.

Don't use so much. They don't like the taste or smell of it, so you only use a very tiny pinch between your thumb and index finger, then mix it up well so it's not visible and is spread out all over the leaves.

 

[awesomecs]

Most Russian Tortoises are wild caught so some of that is normal . You can help a little by adding humidity . Check out Tom's care sheets in the Russian section .

wait Russians like humidity I still soak mine and have clean water everyday