What's wrong?

[rachels-torts]

Hello there I have a 7 year old russian female. Recently, a white/light yellow ring as appeared around her shell. It is also a lot softer that the rest of her shell is. (See picture) She also jerks away whenever I touch it, as if it hurts. I've been doing some reading on it, and some sites say it's one of the beginning signs of obesity, and other say it's due to vitamin deficiency. I do dust her food every few days with a calcium powder and she eats a wide variety of greens and other veggies. I also have a 15w UVB lamp on her at all times and a 100w heat lamp on her for about 16-18 hours each day. And since its a lot colder now here, I have a personal heater in my room so I don't get to cold at night and it keeps the rest of the room pretty warm as well. I also soak her in warm water 1-2 times a week. I'll post a picture of her setup also. I know it's on the small side, but I'm planning on upgrading to a much larger c&c cage in the next couple of months or so. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

welcome to the forum dude! the ring around him just looks like new growth to me! does he ever get natural sun? also whats his diet? how often do you soak?

 

[dmmj]

Looks like growth rings to me. An overweight tortoise would not show in the shell, it would have rolls of fat, coming out of the shell. She does look pyramided to me , what's humidity isshe being kept at.

 

[rachels-torts]

In the summer she spends probably about an hour or two each day outside after I get off work. I give her pelleted food in the morning and at night I usually give her a mixture of greens (such as romaine, turnip, endive, mustard, and raddicio) every few days I'll give her some fruit or things like green pepper, carrot, or radishes

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

fruit is not really needed in a Russians diet, i only give mine one pice of fruit a month. also she should have lots of weeds in her diet like mallow and dandelions. whats her cage humidity like?

 

[Tom]

I don't know what sites you've been reading, but your tortoise looks great and the yellow ring is new growth.

I'm more concerned about what type of pellets you are feeding and what sort of light the 15 watt bulb. Coil types can burn their eyes and no bulb should be on them at all times. 18 hours a day is too much light too. 12 hours is fine most of the year. I only up it to 14 if I'm trying to prevent hibernation.

Here is a care sheet:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

This might help too:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[rachels-torts]

Her humidity level is at about 40-50 right now. I have been giving her some dandelion greens, but we've run out and haven't been able to make it back out to the natural foods store I bought them from

 

[rachels-torts]

I'm glad to hear its growth rings because I was really worried when she jerked away when I touched it. Thanks again for all of your tips! When my next paycheck comes in, I'll look into changing some of her lighting

 

[rachels-torts]

The pelleted food I've been giving her is a mixture of petsmart's all living things tortoise diet for small tortoises and exoterra's juvinille European tortoise cup diet, but I only give her about half of the cup each day

 

[Ciri]

You mentioned that the ring around her shell (which looks like a growth ring) is a little soft and she jerks away when you touch it. That would concern me. I think it's possible that she's not getting enough sunlight – you mentioned putting her outdoors for one hour each day when you get home from work. It's hard for the indoor lights to make up for what a tortoise needs in the way of direct sunlight, and that one hour a day I assume would come late in the day, when the sun is low? On your days off from work are you able to get her outdoors for more hours?

 

[dmmj]

I would cut the fruit back to once or twice a month max.Mine get strawberry tops.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Rachel, and welcome to the forum!

While the new growth is in the 'new' stage, it is tender. After it hardens off, she won't be jerking away when you touch it. All is good. All is normal. Quit worrying!!

 

[rachels-torts]

Yeah on the weekends she spends most of the day outside. If love to get her out now, but it isn't exactly warm here in Minnesota this time of year. (We already have 3 inches of snow) next year I'm hoping to get an outdoor enclosure set up for her out on our deck so that it's safe from the neighborhood wildlife(we saw a few foxes last year) the reason I worried so much is because I've only had her since the end of August, so this is the first time I've seen this. Thanks for the help!

 

[Tom]

I'm glad to hear its growth rings because I was really worried when she jerked away when I touched it. Thanks again for all of your tips! When my next paycheck comes in, I'll look into changing some of her lighting

That is good, but in the mean time I would shut the coil bulb off.

Since your tortoise is indoors all winter, I would recommend a bulb that offers good indoor UV. Mercury vapor bulbs and long florescent tubes are your best bet.

 

[bouaboua]

Good to have you here and looks like you are getting lots respond. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Ciri]

I think Yvonne's right – I haven't pressed on their shells due to tendonitis.

I would suggest trying to get more natural foods as it's healthier. You could grow some foods in pots indoors. I usually can find organic seeds for most of these things, or at least untreated seed:
Clovers
Hibiscus
Daisy
Mallows
Endive
Nasturtium
Escarole
Petunias
Geranium

And you're right – outside in the Minnesota cold would not work! I didn't realize that's where you are.

 

[ascott]

Sometimes the torts/turtles like to have their shells scratched and rubbed....they will even back up to my hands to rub and rock out against my nails....it is very funny actually....kinda like this;

 

[turtlelady80]

[Qscott, post: 989608, member: 8428"]Sometimes the torts/turtles like to have their shells scratched and rubbed....they will even back up to my hands to rub and rock out against my nails....it is very funny actually....kinda like this;

[/QUOTE]
I absolutely LOVE watching my torts do the boot scootnboogie dance HAHA