Shell Help/question

[Herman Tortellini]

We got this Hermann's Tortoise a week ago and would love some help in identifying what is going on with his shell. We notice a brown ring in each scute of the shell and also the chipping and white on the top scutes.

Is this from some trauma from before we got him? Can we do anything to help? Should we currently be concerned?

Just trying our best to care for this little guy and any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Yvonne G]

You usually see this on sulcatas. If that were the case I'd say the new growth ( that's what that area is, new growth) has been burned because the light or heat is too close to his shell.

 

[Tom]

We got this Hermann's Tortoise a week ago and would love some help in identifying what is going on with his shell. We notice a brown ring in each scute of the shell and also the chipping and white on the top scutes.

Is this from some trauma from before we got him? Can we do anything to help? Should we currently be concerned?

Just trying our best to care for this little guy and any help is greatly appreciated!

I agree with Yvonne's assessment. Most people don't house tortoises correctly. Something like this would happen if ambient temps in the enclosure were too cool, and the only place to get warm was under a heat lamp or CHE that was incorrectly set too close. At this point, there is nothing you can do about it except make sure the tortoise is being correctly housed and heated going forward.

Here is the correct care info for your species:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

Questions are welcome.

 

[Herman Tortellini]

You usually see this on sulcatas. If that were the case I'd say the new growth ( that's what that area is, new growth) has been burned because the light or heat is too close to his shell.

Thank you for your help! Do you see any reason to be worried about the white parts on his shell? I appreciate your input and expertise.

 

[Herman Tortellini]

I agree with Yvonne's assessment. Most people don't house tortoises correctly. Something like this would happen if ambient temps in the enclosure were too cool, and the only place to get warm was under a heat lamp or CHE that was incorrectly set too close. At this point, there is nothing you can do about it except make sure the tortoise is being correctly housed and heated going forward.

Here is the correct care info for your species:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

Questions are welcome.

Thank you so much for your help! We will give him the best life moving forward. I appreciate your expertise.

Would you be concerned at all about the white portions on his shell?