HELP! New born bottom shell part is not flat ?

ITSJOYCEDUH

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
40
Help! We have this new hatchling and the bottom of its shell is not flat! Will it flatten out as it gets older ? Is this something I should be concerned about ? ( I am not a breeder my tortoise just laid eggs )
 

Attachments

  • ADADABCF-631B-49BC-97E2-831326AB271E.jpeg
    ADADABCF-631B-49BC-97E2-831326AB271E.jpeg
    839.1 KB · Views: 183

Chefdenoel10

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2018
Messages
3,162
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
Help! We have this new hatchling and the bottom of its shell is not flat! Will it flatten out as it gets older ? Is this something I should be concerned about ? ( I am not a breeder my tortoise just laid eggs )

hello, I am not an expert but that bottom needs to heal and seal closed. I will get you to the experts.
good luck!
I will keep you in my prayers!
hope everything works out.
don’t worry.... yet. ??
@Tom
@Yvonne G
@Toddrickfl1
 

Markw84

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
5,041
Location (City and/or State)
Sacramento, CA (Central Valley)
Completely normal. That is the open area where the yolk save is being absorbed. It will heal quickly if kept very humid in a brooder box setup. It should not be in an enclosure on substrate at this stage to heal properly

Look in the breeding section of the forum and read the post on how to start hatchlings
 

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,388
Help! We have this new hatchling and the bottom of its shell is not flat! Will it flatten out as it gets older ? Is this something I should be concerned about ? ( I am not a breeder my tortoise just laid eggs )
That area is the umbilical scar where the yolk sac was attached to the tortoise. It will gradually get smaller and the shell will grow together and become flatter over the next few weeks. It looks fine as of now. Just be careful not to puncture the soft tissue while the shell is closing together.
 

ITSJOYCEDUH

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
40
Completely normal. That is the open area where the yolk save is being absorbed. It will heal quickly if kept very humid in a brooder box setup. It should not be in an enclosure on substrate at this stage to heal properly

Look in the breeding section of the forum and read the post on how to start hatchlings
Hello ! Let me take a better picture. I am aware that the opening will heal. The bottom part of the shell is concave ?
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    814.5 KB · Views: 107

ITSJOYCEDUH

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
40
That area is the umbilical scar where the yolk sac was attached to the tortoise. It will gradually get smaller and the shell will grow together and become flatter over the next few weeks. It looks fine as of now. Just be careful not to puncture the soft tissue while the shell is closing together.

Hello ! Let me take a better picture. I am aware that the opening will heal. The bottom part of the shell is concave ?
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    1.3 MB · Views: 16

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,388
Hello ! Let me take a better picture. I am aware that the opening will heal. The bottom part of the shell is concave ?
OK, now I see what you mean. The folded area is also normal as NorCal tortoise guy said. It occurs from the baby being crowded for space in the egg as it grows prior to hatching. As the days go by after hatching, that area will gradually flatten until the surface of the plastron looks level or flat. It make take a few weeks to go away, but it will ultimately disappear.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Help! We have this new hatchling and the bottom of its shell is not flat! Will it flatten out as it gets older ? Is this something I should be concerned about ? ( I am not a breeder my tortoise just laid eggs )
As everyone said, that is totally normal and it will flatten out over time. The important thing is to keep the baby in a brooder box for at least 7-10 days after hatching. This will help the plastron flatten out and also help the umbilical scar close up and heal.

Here is more info on how to start babies:

And this is a different species, but much more explanation and pics:
 

New Posts

Top