HELP!!! Baby Cherry Head Tortoise Shell Problem!

[TaylorTortoise]

I have had my baby cherry head tortoise for a month. I am getting worried about the condition of his shell. He began to have white spots. At first, I thought they were mineral deposits. When I put 50/50 water and vinegar I do not see any reaction. So I don't think they are mineral deposits. When I first got him, his shell has a small chip near his left rear leg. Near his left leg, part of his shell had an indent. His back shell is beginning to appear as it's almost "flaking" off. I put 4 pictures to help show what I mean. I am hoping that it is not shell rot.

Relatively he eats well and has a lot of strength when I pick him up after his soak (to let me know that he wants to be put down). He moves relatively fast to his favorite flowerpot, which I gave to him as shelter. I have a humidifier and moss to keep the humidity levels good and for him to hide and explore during the day. have his tank set up in a 24 x 18 x 10 enclosure. Humidity is at 75% and the temperature is between 70-80 degrees F.

I'm not sure what to do and I do not have an exotic vet near me. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!

Thak you.

Is water/vinegar a safe combination for a soak?

 

[ButterTortoise]

Is water/vinegar a safe combination for a soak?

Hi, to clarify - I didn't use it to soak but used a drop of water/vinegar on the white spots to see if they were mineral deposits.

No soaking was involved. I would only use warm, clean water.

 

[Yvonne G]

Is water/vinegar a safe combination for a soak?

No, you don't soak them in it, you use it to clean the shell.

 

[ButterTortoise]

UPDATE: Looking much better! The Athlete foot cream seems to be working great!

Thank you for everyone's help on this. I am still going to schedule an appointment with the vet to make sure this little guy is as healthy as he can be.

Thanks again!

 

[Sarah2020]

Here are all the pictures I took of him today. I applied the athlete foot cream on his yesterday. Today I gave him a soak, brushed him softly with a toothbrush. The pictures I am posting are what he looks like this morning and his shell is dry in the photos.

Yesterday I changed his enclosure and I am only using paper towers I have a humidifier on and I am changing the paper towels regularly.

Today fed him Butter lettuce, strawberries, and vitamin pellets, topped with calcium powder. He was in good spirits and ate his food and ventured around his environment.

I am currently trying to get an appointment with an exotic animal vet.

Thank you for your reply and knowledge.
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It could also be too humid with the humidifier unit you mentioned. We normally dampen substrate and spray water on and let the heat lamp and closed env provide the humidity not using a machine. The pics are an improvement so the advise is helping.

 

[ButterTortoise]

It could also be too humid with the humidifier unit you mentioned. We normally dampen substrate and spray water on and let the heat lamp and closed env provide the humidity not using a machine. The pics are an improvement so the advise is helping.

Thanks for the advice! In my house it is always a raging battle with humidity - But I'm 99% sure it was a humidity issue and the usage of the moss. Just curious, how much do your spray down the environment? I'm just wondering what is too little and too much.

Thanks.