Hello. I'm a little bit embarrassed to be posting this because I have had my tortoise for well over 10 years. I got her (him?) when I was 12 and have done lots of moving around, going to college, and my parents have been very helpful taking her in every now and then. Over the past five years or so, I've noticed irregularities in her shell patterns and brought her into the vet. They said she was OK and told me to vary her diet, feed her approximately her shell size in various lettuces daily, and add some calcium powder to her diet. I've tried to do so but her shell just appears more irregular and now I am afraid I might be over feeding her and there could potentially be shell rot starting?! I just don't know! Here are some images:
I'm sorry the image is blurry, but do you see the small whiteish spot near the right edge of her shell? Is that the beginning of shell rot?
Here is an image of her irregular shell patterns:
I feel absolutely awful. I know it's my fault for not giving her the proper living conditions. My boyfriend and I are currently planning to make her a new indoor pen, because the one she is in right now is not big enough. What is the best substance to put in the bottom of the pen? I've got this fake dirt type stuff now, but it is very dry and dusty.
Since I live in a rented apartment, I cannot build her an outdoor pen. Sometimes I'll let her roam outside in the summertime but I always have to be outside with her, so it's never more than 15-30 minutes. I will be moving in a few months and I plan to build her an outdoor pen as soon as possible.
She eats daily and appears very active most of the time. Some days she is sluggish but it varies frequently. I am looking for any advice to help her shell problems.
I am going to start paying attention to the humidity in the pen. I haven't done that in the past. I know I need to vary her diet more. In the summertime I give her mostly dandelions and pigweed. In the winter I am forced to give her red/green lettuce, sometimes carrots or peppers. I used to give her romaine because I thought it was nutrient-rich but I've heard from different sources that it is either too nutrient rich or just has too much water? So now I've stopped giving it to her.
I love my tortoise and I feel absolutely terrible for letting this happen. I want to do everything possible to improve her future.
I'm sorry the image is blurry, but do you see the small whiteish spot near the right edge of her shell? Is that the beginning of shell rot?
Here is an image of her irregular shell patterns:
I feel absolutely awful. I know it's my fault for not giving her the proper living conditions. My boyfriend and I are currently planning to make her a new indoor pen, because the one she is in right now is not big enough. What is the best substance to put in the bottom of the pen? I've got this fake dirt type stuff now, but it is very dry and dusty.
Since I live in a rented apartment, I cannot build her an outdoor pen. Sometimes I'll let her roam outside in the summertime but I always have to be outside with her, so it's never more than 15-30 minutes. I will be moving in a few months and I plan to build her an outdoor pen as soon as possible.
She eats daily and appears very active most of the time. Some days she is sluggish but it varies frequently. I am looking for any advice to help her shell problems.
I am going to start paying attention to the humidity in the pen. I haven't done that in the past. I know I need to vary her diet more. In the summertime I give her mostly dandelions and pigweed. In the winter I am forced to give her red/green lettuce, sometimes carrots or peppers. I used to give her romaine because I thought it was nutrient-rich but I've heard from different sources that it is either too nutrient rich or just has too much water? So now I've stopped giving it to her.
I love my tortoise and I feel absolutely terrible for letting this happen. I want to do everything possible to improve her future.