Hey I was wondering If we have to or should scrub a hatching or a yearlings shell to clean it like we would an older tortoise. If so how would we go about cleaning the shell?
I have used a very soft tooth brush for more stubborn things, and like to give them a good cleaning once a year or so. Usually right after waking up from hibernating. It gives me an opportunity to see them close up and check for any problem that may have developed over the winter.
You don't really have to, but I scrub my tortoises shells often. I just use a toothbrush with some warm water for the hatchlings, and I have a bigger brush for the adults.
I don't clean mine (unless for some reason they have manure on themselves from like shipping), I think leaving the normal mud and stuff on their shells is a way they in nature help possibly stay cool, avoid other animals like predators and ants. Don't know any of that as a fact, but it makes sense to me.