Tortoise shell rot? Or buildup? Sap?

Thom969

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Hello, i have a sulcata tortoise around 6 years old he's a juvenile. Around a 50 lb male. I live in colorado so the climate is pretty dry not much rainfall maybe once or twice a week. He has a little burrow he likes to sleep in and dig at, maybe a foot or two long he couldn't get further because of roots from the tree which is a pine tree so it does have sap. Just clarifying if its buildup of dirt and sap on his shell or if it's a sign of shell rot i cant take chances. If you need better pictures please ask.
 

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Thom969

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It does sort of rub off when it is wet but I don't want to scrub too hard incase it is rot. Sorry for my lack of knowledge.
 

zovick

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It does sort of rub off when it is wet but I don't want to scrub too hard incase it is rot. Sorry for my lack of knowledge.
It is very rare for tortoises to get shell rot on their upper shells. It usually occurs on the plastron (the underneath side of the tortoise). The spots look to me like pine sap as you suggested or maybe some other plant origin liquid (like milkweed sap) the tortoise is getting on his shell.

You can try taking a cloth or paper towel with some rubbing alcohol on it and scrubbing off the white areas. It will remove sap and will not harm the tortoise. I have done the same thing numerous times to tortoises of mine which got into evergreen sap.
 

Thom969

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Thank you, i will try that when im not busy. Sorry the pics are not the best quality. But im just glad to have confirmation it could be something else besides rot.
It is very rare for tortoises to get shell rot on their upper shells. It usually occurs on the plastron (the underneath side of the tortoise). The spots look to me like pine sap as you suggested or maybe some other plant origin liquid (like milkweed sap) the tortoise is getting on his shell.

You can try taking a cloth or paper towel with some rubbing alcohol on it and scrubbing off the white areas. It will remove sap and will not harm the tortoise. I have done the same thing numerous times to tortoises of mine which got into evergreen sap.
 

Yvonne G

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Tortoises sometimes back up to a tree or other rough object and rub back and forth, back and forth, on the tree, scratching their shell. Looks to me like that's what he's been doing.
 

Thom969

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Colorado
Tortoises sometimes back up to a tree or other rough object and rub back and forth, back and forth, on the tree, scratching their shell. Looks to me like that's what he's been doing.
Yes almost seems like when he goes to his burrow he scoots himself back and forth. Thanks!
 

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