Is my Horsefield tortoise shell looking healthy?

faz669

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Joined
Jun 25, 2021
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8
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Nottingham
Hi
I am a new tortoise owner and I really want to make sure he's healthy. I grow a variety of weeds which I give him fresh, bathes regularly and the basking temperature is correct. He has a large tortoise table and an outdoor enclosure too when the weathers nice. cuttlefish bone and mineral supplement used as well.
Seems to be pooing regularly and acting fairly normal, sometimes I just look at his shell and can not tell if he's beginning to pyramid or not. Was wondering if anyone more knowledgeable than me can see anything that I cant?
Thanks guys
 

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Tom

The Dog Trainer
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There is very mild pyramiding happening, but that is normal in captive raised ones.

Damp substrate, a humid hide, and a closed in top will help reduce it. Using the correct bulbs also helps.

More info here:
 

faz669

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Jun 25, 2021
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Location (City and/or State)
Nottingham
Thanks for your reply, really appreciate it.
about 1 quarter of his enclosure has a closed in top, and the humidity there is around 60. That's were he sleeps. Much dryer in his basking slate at the other end of his enclosure. I spray his hide area with a water mist if it goes below 40 humidity.
also his bulb is UVA and UVB.
Does that all sound right to you? and can you think of anything else that could possibly be leading to the slight pyramiding?
Thank you
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Thanks for your reply, really appreciate it.
about 1 quarter of his enclosure has a closed in top, and the humidity there is around 60. That's were he sleeps. Much dryer in his basking slate at the other end of his enclosure. I spray his hide area with a water mist if it goes below 40 humidity.
also his bulb is UVA and UVB.
Does that all sound right to you? and can you think of anything else that could possibly be leading to the slight pyramiding?
Thank you
Ambient humidity should be around 50-70% all over the enclosure for a growing baby. 90-100% in the humid hide.

What types of bulbs are you using? Incandescent spots, MVBs, others?
 

faz669

New Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2021
Messages
8
Location (City and/or State)
Nottingham
Hi
I have adjusted the humidity all over, thanks a lot for that. I have attached a photo of the bulb im using, please let me know if its an adequate one. I also have UV testing cards to make sure the UV is still working from the bulb.

I have also attached a couple of photos of the shell much closer up, any advice anyone has will be massively appreciated. Are those little lines growth marks? and does the pyramiding look bad?

Thanks guys, spent a lot of time and effort into taking care of our tortoise and just want to be sure im doing right by him.
 

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