Is it possible?

[Mr. RussianTortoise]

I had my Russian tortoise for a while and he is wild caught. Because of this his shell is a bit crusty and doesn’t feel smooth like captive breed tortoises. I would love if my tortoises shell would be smoother and I was wondering whether continuing to give him baths will make his shell smoother. Is this possible?
He is a little dry in the photo

 

[Maggie3fan]

His shell is too dry, so if you soak him daily and every so often use a soft brush to apply coconut oil to his shell over time it will get rid of the 'crusty' feel....

 

[Mr. RussianTortoise]

Coconut oil? Is any type of coconut oil safe? I bathe him every other day, I'll try to bathe him everyday.

His shell is too dry, so if you soak him daily and every so often use a soft brush to apply coconut oil to his shell over time it will get rid of the 'crusty' feel....

 

[SinLA]

Hi shell looks exactly like mine (also wild caught). I don't worry about it too much. Its not like MBD lumps or anything, I think of it as "natural shell"

 

[EppsDynasty]

Coconut oil? Is any type of coconut oil safe? I bathe him every other day, I'll try to bathe him everyday.

NO not any type. It has to be cold pressed and unrefined. Your torts shell is Keratin, for dry Keratin you need lauric acid for it to "absorb" oils. Almost half of the fats in coconut oil and made up of Lauric Acid so it is the best to use. If you used MCT oil or something else you will only be coating the keratin and plugging it, not good for the shell. No more than an hour after applying it you need to wipe down with a soft cloth, rag. You can do this every 2 weeks for a few months then see where your at (any smoother). There are some other oils that contain Lauric Acid but not in the amount of Coconut oil.

 

[Mr. RussianTortoise]

Is this one safe? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Va...146408163?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0

 

[EppsDynasty]

Is this one safe? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Va...146408163?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0

NO see where it says "Expeller Pressed"? Ya want Cold Pressed.

 

[Yvonne G]

What I've been told is to use cold pressed. Not the same as expeller, so no, that's not it.

 

[Yvonne G]

Lol! Dana!

 

[EppsDynasty]

This is what I use

 

[EppsDynasty]

I keep mine in the fridge and scrape out small amounts at a time.
And I learned all this from @Yvonne G …my mentor.

 

[Mr. RussianTortoise]

Oh ok thank you!

 

[Maggie3fan]

I feel like I should say something like..."I've been keeping tortoises for almost 20 years, and most of them were given to me for rescue"...I have never ever not ever...put any product such as coconut oil on any carapace and believe me I've gotten some dry tortoises. I said what I did to beat Barb to the punch. lol Also...in the UK they bathe their tortoises...here in America we soak them....and if you soak everyday for about 20 minutes that carapace will start to hydrate...
This is Layla...

 

[EppsDynasty]

I feel like I should say something like..."I've been keeping tortoises for almost 20 years, and most of them were given to me for rescue"...I have never ever not ever...put any product such as coconut oil on any carapace and believe me I've gotten some dry tortoises. I said what I did to beat Barb to the punch. lol Also...in the UK they bathe their tortoises...here in America we soak them....and if you soak everyday for about 20 minutes that carapace will start to hydrate...
This is Layla...View attachment 368572

This is what we do, everyday soaks. Everyday!

 

[Tom]

I had my Russian tortoise for a while and he is wild caught. Because of this his shell is a bit crusty and doesn’t feel smooth like captive breed tortoises. I would love if my tortoises shell would be smoother and I was wondering whether continuing to give him baths will make his shell smoother. Is this possible? View attachment 368560
He is a little dry in the photo

Coconut oil won't hurt anything, but there is nothing wrong with your tortoise's shell. It is a totally normal looking Russian tortoise shell.