dry shell?

[nicoleann2214]

alright so I noticed her shell looks like this after I’m done soaking? And in general? Humidity is always around 86-88 and temps are 88 ambient and at night I put it down to 80-86. Any ideas?
Also I spray her shell daily.

@Yvonne G @Chubbs the tegu @Tom

 

[nicoleann2214]

another pic

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Is she constantly under the basking light? How often do u spray her shell?

 

[nicoleann2214]

Is she constantly under the basking light? How often do u spray her shell?

Like 7x a day and sometimes yes but it’s an incandescent bulb.

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Do u keep her uvb on all day? Since ur getting her outside now u can turn it off.

 

[nicoleann2214]

Do u keep her uvb on all day? Since ur getting her outside now u can turn it off.

Okay could that be causing it? Yeah I keep it on until 8:30-9.

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Okay could that be causing it? Yeah I keep it on until 8:30-9.

Yeah.. try keeping it off. She doesnt need it when shes getting outside during the summer months. Thats all i can tell yeah. Maybe Tom has something to add. Good luck! Her growth looks good

 

[nicoleann2214]

Yeah.. try keeping it off. She doesnt need it when shes getting outside during the summer months. Thats all i can tell yeah. Maybe Tom has something to add. Good luck! Her growth looks good

Thanks! I’m trying to keep it smoother!

 

[nicoleann2214]

She looks absolutely fine when wet. It’s when she’s dry..

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

She looks absolutely fine when wet. It’s when she’s dry..

Im sure shes fine. Keep up the sprays and soaks and shut the uvb off

 

[ZenHerper]

Dry tortoise shells look...dry. They are supposed to blend in with the ground and shady underbrush, not shine and make everybody see them in the wild.

 

[nicoleann2214]

Dry tortoise shells look...dry. They are supposed to blend in with the ground and shady underbrush, not shine and make everybody see them in the wild.

I know that but what is the white on it ?

 

[ZenHerper]

I know that but what is the white on it ?

The keratin is a bit uneven. Rapid growth will do that a bit; there is some pyramiding.

Make sure the moist substrate is deep enough to burrow in completely, and provide hides in various spots so that they can thermoregulate while burrowing as needed. The shell surface has to remain in contact with moisture all day, so soaking does not affect that much in this regard (it is vitally important to overall hydration status).

 

[nicoleann2214]

The keratin is a bit uneven. Rapid growth will do that a bit; there is some pyramiding.

Make sure the moist substrate is deep enough to burrow in completely, and provide hides in various spots so that they can thermoregulate while burrowing as needed. The shell surface has to remain in contact with moisture all day, so soaking does not affect that much in this regard (it is vitally important to overall hydration status).

Alright thanks, how much deeper should I make my substrate it’s probably 4” deep

 

[ZenHerper]

Alright thanks, how much deeper should I make my substrate it’s probably 4” deep

The farther down you dig toward the glass bottom, the harder packed it gets, and then there is resistance from the glass itself. So you want your wee one to be able to shift the ground easily and never get to the glass. I'd start with at least the height of the shell plus two inches...they don't drill straight down, they'd go at a bit of an angle, and stir around a bit as they get buried.

 

[zovick]

I know that but what is the white on it ?

@nicoleann2214 The white on the tortoise's shell is hard water stain. It is left as the water on the shell evaporates after the tortoise soaks or is misted with water. You can get it off by using a paper towel or a cotton swab with vinegar on it to dissolve the calcified minerals.

Here is a link to another post about this same question a couple of weeks ago:

White stuff on rf hatchling shell... just hard water?

Hello! I'm an experienced mammal owner, but have never cared for reptiles before. I got a redfoot hatchling (about 3 inches) last week and set up a nice 'rainforesty' enclosure (pictured) and hes got a nice little outdoor enclosure too! My problem living in Denver is how dry it is, usually...

www.tortoiseforum.org

 

[nicoleann2214]

@nicoleann2214 The white on the tortoise's shell is hard water stain. It is left as the water on the shell evaporates after the tortoise soaks or is misted with water. You can get it off by using a paper towel or a cotton swab with vinegar on it to dissolve the calcified minerals.

Here is a link to another post about this same question a couple of weeks ago:

White stuff on rf hatchling shell... just hard water?

Hello! I'm an experienced mammal owner, but have never cared for reptiles before. I got a redfoot hatchling (about 3 inches) last week and set up a nice 'rainforesty' enclosure (pictured) and hes got a nice little outdoor enclosure too! My problem living in Denver is how dry it is, usually...

www.tortoiseforum.org

Thank you!!!!

 

[nicoleann2214]

The farther down you dig toward the glass bottom, the harder packed it gets, and then there is resistance from the glass itself. So you want your wee one to be able to shift the ground easily and never get to the glass. I'd start with at least the height of the shell plus two inches...they don't drill straight down, they'd go at a bit of an angle, and stir around a bit as they get buried.

Is this kinda close to a burrow? Haha I’m trying to make it under the rock for some humidity

 

[nicoleann2214]

The farther down you dig toward the glass bottom, the harder packed it gets, and then there is resistance from the glass itself. So you want your wee one to be able to shift the ground easily and never get to the glass. I'd start with at least the height of the shell plus two inches...they don't drill straight down, they'd go at a bit of an angle, and stir around a bit as they get buried.

Kinda close? Do you have references

 

[ZenHerper]

Is this kinda close to a burrow? Haha I’m trying to make it under the rock for some humidity

Yeah, that's fine. Torts have an instinct to dig their own burrows, so as long as the rock is not going to shift and fall down onto the shell if there's some more digging farther back, they might enjoy that.

You can get some cheap plastic containers or bowls at the dollar store and cut doorways. As long as they are big enough to turn completely around in, those make great hide boxes (and don't cost a lot of money you will miss as the wee one grows).