How does my 1 year old Horsefield tortoise shell look?

faz669

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Jun 25, 2021
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Nottingham
Hi all
Tyrians just over 1 year old and we have had him for around 6 months. I have followed the guidelines on forums regarding diet, humidity, lighting and substrate but I cant tell if his shell is looking healthy or not? these little bumps were already there when we got him, and im not sure if its just his natural shell or something else? and also he seems to have got darker both on the underside of his shell and his face/arms over the last few months if anybody could advise?

and the other thing is he generally sleeps for around 17/18 hours a day (not all in one go). He eats, poops, urates and basks like normal, as well as digging his hide out every night before bed that I re fill in the morning. Eyes look clear and alert, and nose never wet or runny, not sure if this is normal behavior in 14 month old Horsefield?

Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks!
 

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Lyn W

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Hi,
I don't know if you've seen this up to date caresheet already but this will help you double check everything.

His shell looks OK to me but I don't have a Hermanns so hopefully someone else who keeps them can tell you more about that. I can't see the bumps but it could be pyramiding which could have started when he was a baby if he was kept too dry. You can't get rid of that but it is possible to stop it getting worse with the right conditions. If you post some pics of his enclosure and tell us what lamps, substrate etc you use and his temp and humidity readings members can advise you on any changes you may need to make.

With regards his sleeping check his 4 temps to be on the safe side but my tort slows down in the winter, eats less and poops less often. Even though he lives indoors and his temps are constant it's as if he knows when the seasons change - maybe it's the light.
Are you using night heat ?
 

faz669

New Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2021
Messages
8
Location (City and/or State)
Nottingham
Hi, thanks for your replies everyone. Couple of sideways photos attached.

His temps are 21 overnight, 33 in his basking spot and generally 21 on his cool side of enclosure.
I have a humid hide that we made for him, and his substrate is topsoil that we spray regularly keeping the top dry and bottom moist.

our humidity reader is 100 in his humid hide and around 70/80 on his cool side. He has a dry side with his lights and basking slate, and some stones and shade. We have one UVB + UVA bulb, not sure what brand it was but I can try find out? Defo emits UVB UVA and heat. We check to see its working monthly with these cards that measure UV.

I have been advised it looks like hes growing a little quick so I have lessened dinner portions, he does seem healthy whilst awake. Finds all his food, climbs his logs and stones (hes a stuntman), eats well, moves around a lot and looks inquisitive. poops and wees regularly as well. Oh and he has an outdoor enclosure that he was in regularly when the weather was nicer.

My main concerns are
A. Is it normal that they sleep that much at 14 month old? around 18 hours of the day
B. generally how does the shell look to you guys
and C. he never burrows downwards despite having deep substrate, only burrows in to things if that makes sense. Is that normal too? because everyone seems to say there Horsefields burrow alot.

Again, thanks a lot everyone and sorry for the essay.
 

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