malformed?

[Dianne-]

First post. And already question about something im worried about.
2 weeks ago I got a young tortoise. T.h.b.
Hatched 8-8-15.
His topshel looks malformed to me.
Does this complicates his growth?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I'm no expert on this, but I know that many times a shell can be slightly disfigured on a new baby and it often goes away and looks normal after a few months.
Are you talking about actual shell shape or the extra scutes?

 

[Dianne-]

The scutes worry me.
Maybe somebody here with a fullgrown with some similar scutes ?

Sorry for the bad english....

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Extra scutes happen. It wont go away. It's not a bad thing. It's actually an easy way to tell tortoises apart for me.
Extra scutes are nothing to worry about and not at all uncommon.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Many people love tortoises with extra or split scutes.
it makes the tortoise special or unique.
It's a lovely baby!
Be proud!

 

[wellington]

Split scutes and extra scutes are nothing to worry about.

 

[Dianne-]

Thanks!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Lovely.
Oh, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum!!
Make sure you keep the humidity up.
Have a read of http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, Diane, and welcome to the Forum!

No, the split scute won't affect the way your baby grows. His overall silhouette will look like it's supposed to look. Personally, I love the split/extra scutes. To me it makes that tortoise special. I have several of them.

This happens for a couple different reasons - the incubation temperature was on the high side, meaning this tortoise is female, or it may be genetic and the tortoise could be either sex.

 

[Dianne-]

Thanks! Hope it is a female!

 

[Dianne-]

Up side down

 

[Aunt Caffy]

Your baby is darling.

 

[pepsiandjac]

A beautiful little baby