TortyPerson
New Member
Hi everybody,
Last year we acquired a 7 year old Greek tortoise after he and his brother had been fighting in his previous home. He had a tough youth as he was one of only a few (presumably wild) tortoise babies that survived being smuggled in a golf bag to uk, at which point he was seized by customs. He had pyramiding when we got him and still has it, presumably forever. I believe he leads a good life now. He eats only a wide range of wild leaves/flowers with calcium powder and additional pre-alpin testudo mix in winter. We weigh him every month and his weight fluctuates but on average it is more or less the same as when he arrived. We soak him minimum twice a week and he has a sizeable indoor tortoise table with the usual uv lamps, rocks, logs, and plants in it and an outdoor enclosure for when it's warm.
My question is about his shell. He arrived with some scute damage near his tail but its dry and the top layer of scute has been gradually lifting at the sides for a year now. I'm not too worried about this but will include photos. (See image 1) The thing I am a bit concerned about is the top of his shell where the apex of a couple of his pyramided scutes have worn away a little as he barges through the tunnels and overhangs in his enclosures. I believe this is the kind of natural erosion that would happen in the wild if he managed to get pyramiding but I obviously don't want it to get so worn down that bone is exposed. So do i need to remove the overhangs etc that are causing this to be worn or is it all natural and ok? (Image 2)
There are also 2 tiny indents like pinpricks on a scute. (Image 3/4) His shell is hard all over, theres no discolouration, and he's very active. Anything to worry about?
Thanks,
TP
Last year we acquired a 7 year old Greek tortoise after he and his brother had been fighting in his previous home. He had a tough youth as he was one of only a few (presumably wild) tortoise babies that survived being smuggled in a golf bag to uk, at which point he was seized by customs. He had pyramiding when we got him and still has it, presumably forever. I believe he leads a good life now. He eats only a wide range of wild leaves/flowers with calcium powder and additional pre-alpin testudo mix in winter. We weigh him every month and his weight fluctuates but on average it is more or less the same as when he arrived. We soak him minimum twice a week and he has a sizeable indoor tortoise table with the usual uv lamps, rocks, logs, and plants in it and an outdoor enclosure for when it's warm.
My question is about his shell. He arrived with some scute damage near his tail but its dry and the top layer of scute has been gradually lifting at the sides for a year now. I'm not too worried about this but will include photos. (See image 1) The thing I am a bit concerned about is the top of his shell where the apex of a couple of his pyramided scutes have worn away a little as he barges through the tunnels and overhangs in his enclosures. I believe this is the kind of natural erosion that would happen in the wild if he managed to get pyramiding but I obviously don't want it to get so worn down that bone is exposed. So do i need to remove the overhangs etc that are causing this to be worn or is it all natural and ok? (Image 2)
There are also 2 tiny indents like pinpricks on a scute. (Image 3/4) His shell is hard all over, theres no discolouration, and he's very active. Anything to worry about?
Thanks,
TP
