Raised White Lines In Between Scutes

[nachotheredfoot]

Hi,

I noticed these whitish lines on my redfoot tortoise a couple of months ago.
At first I thought it was growth lines but they have become more prominent and they look raised.
I got him 4 years ago from a pet shelter with the pyramiding you see in the pic(his previous owners kept him in a very small container and fed him mostly lettuce most of his life )
He lives in a 3 x 8 enclosure with coconut substrate. I try to spritz him occasionally and also keep the substrate moist. There is a porcelain heat emitter and a good amount of sun comes in through a window every day.
I was told he was 8 when I got him, so I didnt think he would still be growing. I am worried this is an infection of some kind. Any info/advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Toddrickfl1]

That's new growth.

 

[nachotheredfoot]

That's new growth.

Thanks for the reply! Is it normal for torties that are 11+ years to have those lines?
I'm concerned that it may be MBD.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Thanks for the reply! Is it normal for torties that are 11+ years to have those lines?
I'm concerned that it may be MBD.

I'm not sure but it's definitely not Mbd. That's where new growth starts in between the scutes like that.

 

[LasTortugasNinja]

New growth happens on ALL reptiles... from babies to the 200+ year old Galapagos. it's like fingernails. The new growth doesn't always mean the animal is getting bigger, but as they age and natural wear and tear, they grow new material to replace the worn parts.

 

[nachotheredfoot]

Thanks for the clarification! I had no idea!
Is it also normal for him to be sensitive in that area? when i brushed it gently or pressed my fingernail into the white lines, he did not like it at all and started wiggling and walking away.

 

[KarenSoCal]

Thanks for the clarification! I had no idea!
Is it also normal for him to be sensitive in that area? when i brushed it gently or pressed my fingernail into the white lines, he did not like it at all and started wiggling and walking away.

It probably hurt when you did that. Sometimes we see pictures of pink/red color there...owner is worried. But the pink is blood vessels supporting the new growth.

Until the keratin hardens, tender tissue is right under it.

 

[LasTortugasNinja]

It's sensitive. Like how a teenager's arms and legs are sensitive and sore when he/she is having a growth spurt.

 

[nachotheredfoot]

It's sensitive. Like how a teenager's arms and legs are sensitive and sore when he/she is having a growth spurt.

Understood! Do you know how long until his shell looks back to normal?

 

[nachotheredfoot]

It probably hurt when you did that. Sometimes we see pictures of pink/red color there...owner is worried. But the pink is blood vessels supporting the new growth.

Until the keratin hardens, tender tissue is right under it.

Gotcha. Thanks for the insight! Would you happen to know how long until his shell returns back to normal? At the moment it just looks like white gaps in between his scutes.

 

[LasTortugasNinja]

Understood! Do you know how long until his shell looks back to normal?

It'll harden after a little while, but it'll happen frequently, as it's a healthy biological function. Really, you should worry if you DON'T see it happening.

 

[KarenSoCal]

Gotcha. Thanks for the insight! Would you happen to know how long until his shell returns back to normal? At the moment it just looks like white gaps in between his scutes.

What Ninja said...