Starting to get lumpy shells

[danieledwards2006]

My baby tortoises are currently 2yrs and they have always been fed on a 100% weed diet and have calcium and vits supplement 3 times a week they are wormed upto date and are healthy someone said it may be because its not humid enough they are ibera's. They are kept in a tortoise table and go out on hot days but unfortunately i live in england and have hardly had a summer.

 

[Laura]

Can you post pictures?
Do you have humidity in thier hides? Wet sponge or moss?

 

[Crazy1]

Even ibera's need humidity It is now thought that not only food plays a large roll in the smoothness of the shell but humidity and activity too. What is the humidity of your tort table?

 

[danieledwards2006]

I have no gauge to tell me the humidity i use aspen as bedding what is the best way to increase the humidity? Also my two torts, one originally didnt stop eating and was very over active and developed a lumpy shell at the time the other one was much less active and slept a lot and didnt have that much of a lumpy shell recently the rolls have reversed.

 

[Itort]

Do you have access to sphagrum moss ? It is commonly used as a growing medium for orchids. This is what I use as substrat in the hides for my Stars (nearest I have husbandry wise to a Med).

 

[agiletorts]

You could spray water into the bedding to increase humidity, or when they're outside you could turn on the sprinkler. Iberas is OK with some humidity as long as it's not cold.

 

[danieledwards2006]

Here are some pics.

 

[Ozric]

Hello Daniel

A hair hygrometer is useful for measuring humidity.

http://www.kimbosreptileworld.co.uk....html?osCsid=cedfc3bc184938f8cfe8903bcd5a9b42


This should be a link to where you can get one online in the UK for £12. There is a growing belief that humidity is a factor in shell growth in hatchlings and juveniles generally. As long as it's not cold and wet at the same time, humidity may be beneficial.

I use spagnum moss that I mist over and my Hermanns do like it as bedding. But I don't leave them in cold wet moss. The ideal humid hide is maybe one made of soil contained within mesh that has suitable plants growing in it, with a hole to crawl inside.

If you mist your aspen too much you may get some kind of problem with it. One way to raise humidity on a table is to throw a slab of turf on there and water it daily. The grass will live for quite a while. But I stress I don't know anyhting about Iberas!
Jonathan

I have no gauge to tell me the humidity i use aspen as bedding what is the best way to increase the humidity? Also my two torts, one originally didnt stop eating and was very over active and developed a lumpy shell at the time the other one was much less active and slept a lot and didnt have that much of a lumpy shell recently the rolls have reversed.

 

[siwash]

sounds like my vivarium isn't such a nasty place after all... everyone stated that glass is bad, but maybe some humidity is good!

 

[Crazy1]

Siwash, some humidity is good. Glass or aquariums are typically frowned upon because they hold heat and it is difficult to set up different micro climates. Plus If the tort can see out it can be stressed out. I know lots of folk that use aquariums for their young torts and they do fine. Air circulation is also of concern. But then some totes are just as high. I think in the past people placed torts in aquariums that are far too small to make a good micro climate for them. As long as you know the problems aquariums can create and can correct those problems then I personally see nothing wrong with glass. But then this is my personal opinion. And I have found that I do like the tables better than the glass aquarium for my torts (more room less, weight).