Shell is separating? Bumpy.

[Nimbledoe]

This is new this past month. Seems like Oakley's scutes are getting bumpier and separating a little? Also the bottom scutes/marginals are beginning to turn up slightly. They guess she is 8- 10 years old.

I have been feeding the spring mix with added red or green lettuce, cactus pad. Along with 3 times a week a sprinkling of TNT and calcium. She also self baths or drinks nearly daily. I have a uvb basking lamp that she enjoys off and on through out the day. My enclosure is 6 feet long and 3 1/2 feet wide with a second floor ramp. She seems to get lots of exersises. One end is 95 -100 de.down to 65 -70 at the other end.

The first picture is of a little over a month ago. The second is of today. Is she growing too fast? I thought she should grow more smoothly?? How worried should I be??

 

[tortadise]

Looks like new growth to me.

 

[laney]

I think she looks great

 

[Nimbledoe]

Looks like new growth to me.

---

Looks like new growth to me.

I was afraid it was the beginning of pyramiding !

---

Looks like new growth to me.

Do you think it is too fast of a growth?

 

[luvpetz27]

I think he looks great too!

 

[Eloise's mommy]

Such pretty coloring!!

 

[pam]

She looks great

 

[68merc]

looks like all of my Russians. New groth

 

[tortadise]

Pyramiding happens on the scutes. Your guy looks great. His growth is between the scutes which is normal.

 

[biochemnerd808]

Looks like normal, healthy new growth to me. Nothing to worry about, and good that Oakley is growing!
Once the weather gets nicer I recommend adding some more variety from outside (dandelions and other edible weeds from the list on www.russiantortoise.net).
The color will darken in time - new growth in RTs looks waxy and pale yellow, then the speckles grow into it, and in time, will look more like the rest of the shell.

This is new this past month. Seems like Oakley's scutes are getting bumpier and separating a little? Also the bottom scutes/marginals are beginning to turn up slightly. They guess she is 8- 10 years old.

I have been feeding the spring mix with added red or green lettuce, cactus pad. Along with 3 times a week a sprinkling of TNT and calcium. She also self baths or drinks nearly daily. I have a uvb basking lamp that she enjoys off and on through out the day. My enclosure is 6 feet long and 3 1/2 feet wide with a second floor ramp. She seems to get lots of exersises. One end is 95 -100 de.down to 65 -70 at the other end.

The first picture is of a little over a month ago. The second is of today. Is she growing too fast? I thought she should grow more smoothly?? How worried should I be??

 

[Nimbledoe]

Looks like normal, healthy new growth to me. Nothing to worry about, and good that Oakley is growing!
Once the weather gets nicer I recommend adding some more variety from outside (dandelions and other edible weeds from the list on www.russiantortoise.net).
The color will darken in time - new growth in RTs looks waxy and pale yellow, then the speckles grow into it, and in time, will look more like the rest of the shell.

Thank you all very much for getting back to me. biochemnerd808, good information and its good to know Oakley is 'normal'. I can't wait till the snow is gone and all the new weeds, flowers etc. start coming up. She will have a much more variety in her diet.

This is new this past month. Seems like Oakley's scutes are getting bumpier and separating a little? Also the bottom scutes/marginals are beginning to turn up slightly. They guess she is 8- 10 years old.

I have been feeding the spring mix with added red or green lettuce, cactus pad. Along with 3 times a week a sprinkling of TNT and calcium. She also self baths or drinks nearly daily. I have a uvb basking lamp that she enjoys off and on through out the day. My enclosure is 6 feet long and 3 1/2 feet wide with a second floor ramp. She seems to get lots of exersises. One end is 95 -100 de.down to 65 -70 at the other end.

The first picture is of a little over a month ago. The second is of today. Is she growing too fast? I thought she should grow more smoothly?? How worried should I be??