Shell Questions

[Seth Tyler]

Hey guys,

I have a few questions about my sulfate tortoise! He seems to act extremely healthy, but like any father to a tortoise I over worry. I just noticed his scutes on the top of his shell are very far apart. I don't know if this varies per each baby tortoise or what this might be about but it's been this way for as long as I can remember.

Also, on his underside it looks almost skinny. Which doesn't make a lot of sense to me since the top looks very big and healthy other than the questionable space between scutes. I'm not sure of his gender, as crazy as it sounds I found him on the side of the road in upstate NY! good news was it was summer and my father found him while on his daily run. So I took him as I knew he wouldn't survive outdoors much longer!

I fed him grass for about a month last year, and now I feed him kale with calcium powder and herptivite, with a side of mazuri pellets.

Let me know if this is something I should be worried about. Thanks guys!

Seth.

 

[Seth Tyler]

Here are some pictures. Also I just noticed it wasn't there a few days ago, but there is a little brown spot on his underside as well. It's hard when touched, though it was dried up feces and maybe it is, but it doesn't look like she'll rot right?

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. We will need to see a picture of the shell you have concern with. Besides that, his diet needs to be improved. The grass would be a better diet, but not alone. Add as much variety as possible and calcium should only be added a tiny pinch twice a week and with a proper diet not much if any additional calcium and vitamins is needed

 

[wellington]

Your pictures posted as my post posted. The top she'll is pyramiding and that's why there are wide look space. He needs to be kept warm and humid. Please read the threads titled below in my post. It will help you set him up properly with temps and humidity

 

[Seth Tyler]

Hey Wellington, I just uploaded photos, I forgot to include them in the original post! What besides grass do you suggest is good for him? I just struggled reading forums this entire time, as some said grass was bad for them as it can give them digestive problems and things like that. I will remember to lower his dose of calcium as well. Let me know what you think of the shell and if it poses any huge issues, or whether it's normal, or just changes in environment or something might help!

 

[Seth Tyler]

super helpful, really glad I finally found a responsive thread. What about the bottom shell? Does that look alright?

 

[Speedy-1]

As far as the scutes they will continue to get farther apart since all the "growth" rings are in the dark area !



I doubt it is shell rot , it will probably come right off after a good soak in warm water ! Probably dried feces as you said . The bottom is growing too , look for red lines , which indicate new growth. You can even see which way he is growing , wider or longer , by these marks ! Hope that helps , he is a good looking tort !

 

[Yvonne G]

Your new tortoise is probably someone else's 'lost' tortoise, since Sulcata are not native to New York. Have you tried to find his owner? Because of his size, it might be that the owner put him outside to get some sun and a bird carried him off. This is a common occurrence with birds and baby tortoises.

There is nothing wrong with the way the shell is growing. All the space between the scutes is new growth. It get wider and wider as he grows.

The brown spot on the plastron is a spot of stuck on dirt or poop.

 

[Seth Tyler]

I'm a little confused as to if its pyramiding as mentioned above by Wellington or not now. Regardless I will take precaution and work to regulate his environment and food more!