Shell issue with adopted tortoise

[Tortoiseguy024]

My daughter wanted a tortoise and I have been looking into owning them for a while before she even said anything so I did more research and we got a sulcata I believe she's around 2yrs old we got her preowned her shell was soft on the sides and a lil on the bottom but in the 6 months we have had her it has hardened up nicely the issue I am having is she seems to small for her shell I don't kno if this is how she is supposed to look or not

 

[Big Charlie]

They grow at different rates. Yours is small because she had a bad start. She has some pyramiding, which shouldn't get any worse if you change some conditions. Please read the threads about how to raise a healthy sulcata: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.64290/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
Your tortoise shouldn't be allowed to roam on the carpet. There are too many fuzzies and other things she might eat accidentally, plus it isn't warm enough and is dangerous. You need to change your substrate to something that will hold moisture. Your tortoise needs UV, heat and humidity.

 

[Bee62]

Hello,
I don`t think that your tortoise is 2 years old because he or she is very small, although they grow in different rates as Big Charly said.
What your tortoise urgent needs are long daily soaks in warm water. The water must stay warm during the soaks. She looks dehydrated and that is bad for her.
The substrate in her enclosure looks very dry. Sulcata tortoises need a high humidity of
80 % when they are young and temps that never drop below 80 F ( at night ) in their enclosure.
Read the sulcata care sheets attentively and come back with every question you have.
I hope you have a lot ( questions ).

 

[Tortoiseguy024]

Tomorrow is soak day I usually do 3 to 4 times a week and I figure her age cause I have had her for about 6 months and the previous owner said they had her about a year or so and she has most definitely grown since I have had her yes the pyramiding hasn't changed since I got her and she was only on the carpet for the pictures I usually don't let her walk around on it I am well researched in the care for a sulcata tortoise you shouldn't get a pet until you feel you can fully take care if there needs with that said I got repti bark as her main substrate and orchard hay inside her lil hide box I made I must it daily and soak her house once a week in water for an hour or so for lights I got a zoo meds heat bulb and a exp terra uvb 150 desert build its abt 100 to 102 in her basking area and abt 80ish inside her lil house her diet is spring, mixed greens, grasses and weeds from outside and I give her mizuris but she won't touch it I have even tried just giving her mizuris for days but she will not eat it I can't figure out why I have even soaked it and spread it on her other food she picks through it and leaves the mizuris alone

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Pour water into the substrate by hand and mix it in, it's much more efficient at raising the humidity than just misting. The substrate should be warm and moist, but not cold and wet. A cheap, shallow, terracotta plant saucer, sunk into the substrate and big enough for the tortoise to lie in will also help with humidity.
Can't tell from the pictures, but is it a closed chamber ?
And get rid of the hay, when dry it's ,well, too dry and dusty and when damp or wet can mold.
Some members find their torts won't eat the new Mazuri but love the Mazuri Original.
Have a look at http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/

 

[Tortoiseguy024]

Its mostly closed I got her in a 40 gallon tank for now until we move and I can build her something a lot bigger and more permanent and an outdoor area for summer we are in western pa winters suck here I got a small area outside I let her run around in now we just don't have the yard space till me move here soon but yea her tank is mostly closed I got glass acrossed 3/4 of the top the area I got the lights isn't covered she seems very healthy she's constantly doing something she eats like a pig I feed her one big meal in the evening and just something small in the mornings the only issue I had was she seems to big for her shell like its not growing as fast as she is I kno it was soft when I first got her but its much harder now just a lil on the bottom could that be why and now the shell has to play catch up I researched sulcata tortoises for months and yet there's not much info on this topic that's why I'm here to get an answer

 

[Alaskamike]

Just a suggestion.
Covering over 3/4 of top withglass will not hold in humidity. It dissipates right out.

Most recommend closed chambers for young ones like yours with 80% + humidity. You can't get that with an opening like that.

We keep our homes heated or air conditioned with humidity between 30-60%.

Only way to know what it is inside tank is with an electronic heat / humidity gauge. I got one cheap at Home Depot.

Good fortune with him / her. Welcome.