possible shell rot?

[Bass.Isles]

Hey everyone, I was told high humidity and a damp closed chamber enclosure would help my little Isla's pyramiding, which was present when I got her on 4/8. So, she's been in her high temp (87-95 degrees), high humidity (80-90%), damp enclodure for about 8 days now. But I noticed last night that all her shutes are starting to warp/pull/curve up. And her plastron has become softer. Is this shell rot, or what? Also, what do I do? Lower the humidity, provide new & dry substrate? Or just leave my setup as it is? Advice would be greatly appreciated, thank y'all.

 

[tortdad]

Wash the dirt of the bottom and take some more pics

 

[Bass.Isles]

okay.

 

[Bass.Isles]

But what about the schutes that are lifting/curling upwards?

 

[wellington]

@Tom

 

[Tom]

I don't see anything out of the ordinary there.

The substrate should be damp underneath, but not wet.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

What type of substrate are you using?
With a two layer type, like orchid bark covered by garden soil. The orchid bark will absorb the water when it's poured into the corners and give off humidity while the top layer stays dry (ish).
You don't want your tortoise to be constantly damp.

 

[Big Charlie]

It looks normal to me. Are you talking about the curling on the edges? If you look at my avatar, you can see Charlie's scutes curve up. Here you can see that they make a great shelf to hold mud.
I believe I read on here that sulcatas aren't prone to shell rot.

 

[Bass.Isles]

okay, cool. I'll quit worrying so much then. and I'll add a little less water to her substrate. here's a pic with a clean plastron. well, as clean as i could get her lol. I lightly scrubbed her off with a new toothbrush after her soaking time.

 

[Stuart S.]

She looks good!

 

[Bass.Isles]

What type of substrate are you using?
With a two layer type, like orchid bark covered by garden soil. The orchid bark will absorb the water when it's poured into the corners and give off humidity while the top layer stays dry (ish).
You don't want your tortoise to be constantly damp.

I'm using Cypress mulch/bark and topsoil. Should I be mixing them together or layering? I think you said layering. I have been mixing, but I'm setting up a new, larger indoor habitat for her tomorrow, so I can do the layering thing. Mulch/bark underneath, soil on top, correct?

 

[Bass.Isles]

She looks good!

Awesome, possum. Thanks again!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I'm using Cypress mulch/bark and topsoil. Should I be mixing them together or layering? I think you said layering. I have been mixing, but I'm setting up a new, larger indoor habitat for her tomorrow, so I can do the layering thing. Mulch/bark underneath, soil on top, correct?

It's what I use. And it works great for me. Add water into the corners.

 

[tortdad]

It's what I do too