Hello fellow tortoisers. Meet Humpty Dumpty.
Humpty is a +/- 13yo male(?) 25lb sulcata that we recently rescued. As far as I can tell, this is his history.
Humpty (previously Franklin), belonged to Family A since purchased as a hatchling. Family A was less than knowledgeable about proper care and maintenance of tortoises and he escaped a few times from their backyard once he outgrew the plastic tub he lived in. Family A then solved the problem in the only way that makes any sense: they tied the three year old tortoise up with a rope to keep him from escaping.
Humpty lived the next nine years of his life with that rope around him, and his shell grew around it. (I know, I know, I grabbed my pitchfork when I heard it too) Family A eventually tired of Humpty, and gave him to Family B.
Family B had more knowledge and experience with sulcatas than Family A, and they took Humpty in and rehabilitated him as best they could. Proper diet, exercise, and hydration had him to normal (well, mostly) tortoise function in no time. They helped to socialize him a bit with humans, and he seemed to be doing great. About that time, (approx. 9 months after rescue from Family A), Family B realized that he was more than they could care for and posted an ad for his rescue, to which I responded and acquired him.
I've had Humpty for about a month now, and I've been watching him closely for hours everyday, plus checking out his activity on the cctv I have near his enclosure after I get home, and he is THE MOST active tortoise I have ever seen. He eats like a starved horse, is moving and tromping around his yard non-stop from sunup to sundown, and is drinking and pooping and peeing like normal. By all standards and evidences, he seems to be a totally normal and healthy tortoise.
My question concerns his shell. Though odd shaped, his shell also seems healthy and hard except for one spot. Here are a few pictures:
I've examined his shell pretty closely multiple times, and it all appears to be hard and solid, though a bit funky, except for this spot at the top:
It's about the size of a nickel, and I've poked around in it a bit and it seems soft, though I haven't really dug into it. I spray him and his enclosure off frequently (as it's quite warm here in Riverside) and that little dent collects water and dust and just pools there. Through very healthy looking now, I fear infection if it is in fact a breach in his hull.
My questions are these: how bad does it look? Is there a safe, at home way to repair and seal damage tortoise shells? I've heard of people using fiberglass and epoxy resin, but the thought of using those chemicals to seal an open wound on myself causes me to shudder. I don't want to hurt him, but I'd rather he stay healthy.
Any tips or suggestions from the veterans would be greatly appreciated!
Humpty is a +/- 13yo male(?) 25lb sulcata that we recently rescued. As far as I can tell, this is his history.
Humpty (previously Franklin), belonged to Family A since purchased as a hatchling. Family A was less than knowledgeable about proper care and maintenance of tortoises and he escaped a few times from their backyard once he outgrew the plastic tub he lived in. Family A then solved the problem in the only way that makes any sense: they tied the three year old tortoise up with a rope to keep him from escaping.
Humpty lived the next nine years of his life with that rope around him, and his shell grew around it. (I know, I know, I grabbed my pitchfork when I heard it too) Family A eventually tired of Humpty, and gave him to Family B.
Family B had more knowledge and experience with sulcatas than Family A, and they took Humpty in and rehabilitated him as best they could. Proper diet, exercise, and hydration had him to normal (well, mostly) tortoise function in no time. They helped to socialize him a bit with humans, and he seemed to be doing great. About that time, (approx. 9 months after rescue from Family A), Family B realized that he was more than they could care for and posted an ad for his rescue, to which I responded and acquired him.
I've had Humpty for about a month now, and I've been watching him closely for hours everyday, plus checking out his activity on the cctv I have near his enclosure after I get home, and he is THE MOST active tortoise I have ever seen. He eats like a starved horse, is moving and tromping around his yard non-stop from sunup to sundown, and is drinking and pooping and peeing like normal. By all standards and evidences, he seems to be a totally normal and healthy tortoise.
My question concerns his shell. Though odd shaped, his shell also seems healthy and hard except for one spot. Here are a few pictures:
I've examined his shell pretty closely multiple times, and it all appears to be hard and solid, though a bit funky, except for this spot at the top:
It's about the size of a nickel, and I've poked around in it a bit and it seems soft, though I haven't really dug into it. I spray him and his enclosure off frequently (as it's quite warm here in Riverside) and that little dent collects water and dust and just pools there. Through very healthy looking now, I fear infection if it is in fact a breach in his hull.
My questions are these: how bad does it look? Is there a safe, at home way to repair and seal damage tortoise shells? I've heard of people using fiberglass and epoxy resin, but the thought of using those chemicals to seal an open wound on myself causes me to shudder. I don't want to hurt him, but I'd rather he stay healthy.
Any tips or suggestions from the veterans would be greatly appreciated!