Shell rot?

[tortnmutt]

Relatively new tort owner (4 months) and I've noticed his shell starting to peel on his belling and some discoloration on the top of his shell. Sorry I don't know their official terms. I got him for my classroom where I teach special education and the kids apply to be his limited caretaker (feeding mostly).
I got him from a local family who was looking to rehome him because he wasn't getting the attention he deserved. They got him at a petco 3 years ago. I live in rural WA with no tort vet nearby so any treatments I can do at home with things that are readily available would be great!!

 

[Tom]

Doesn't look like shell rot. Looks like the typical shell of a wild caught imported tortoise. They take a bit of a beating either in the wild or on their way over here sometimes. He might have also been chewed on by a dog at some point in the past.

 

[TortsNTurtles]

He is beautiful! I love the dark color.

 

[ascott]

Looks like an area that has had friction in the past...but appears to be old injury site....possibly crossed rough surface on a routine basis where he came from....I would just keep an eye on it from time to time to assure that gunk does not get trapped in the flaking and start a bacterial issue....

 

[tortnmutt]

Awwhhh poor Shelldon was wild?! I hate people. It has chipped some more since I've had him but not significantly. I'm having a terrible time keeping his enclosure above 20% humidity. Ive read that adults are more hardy so I'm going to try and make a top to help keep the humidity in.
He's also very inactive. I have to wake him up to feed him. I've been soaking him every other day and letting him crawl around but he just finds somewhere to crawl in. I think he really wanted to hibernate but he was in no condition to when I got him.

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And he's got a bowl of water in his house to help with the humidity but thinks its a death trap. I'll put him in it and you've never seen him move faster to get out.

 

[WillTort2]

You may need to put a humid hide in your enclosure. Or possibly add a humidifier to the room.

 

[tortnmutt]

Being in the Pacific Northwest it's plenty humid. When his lights aren't on the humidity goes up to 60%. I can't add a humidifier to the room because he's in my classroom 5 days of the week.

 

[TortsNTurtles]

Have you tried other types if substrate like Eco Earth?

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Also is he only being feed 5 days a week ? How is he feed on the weekends?

 

[tortnmutt]

He comes home with me on the weekends usually. If not then I'll "plant" broccoli trees and leave little piles of his salad mix around his house.

 

[kezilulu]

I'm sure I've read broccoli isn't brilliant for Russian's and it's a treat once every few months rather than a regular feed?!
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