Red Spot on baby sulcata tortoise, please help!

Gynni

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I have a 3month old sulcata. We've had him for a little over a week. This morning I noticed a small red spot on his top shell. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice as to what it could be, please.

IMG_5443.JPG
 

Tom

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Hello and welcome.

Is it possible that was an ID mark from the breeder that has not worn off yet?

I would soak the tortoise and then try to rub it off.

Since you are here, I will take advantage of this opportunity to let you know that most of the care info offered for this species is wrong and based on old incorrect assumptions about how they live in the wild. After many years of experimentation, trial and error and research, here is the correct care info for this species that hatches at the start of the monsoon season:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
 

Gynni

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Hello and welcome.

Is it possible that was an ID mark from the breeder that has not worn off yet?

I would soak the tortoise and then try to rub it off.

Since you are here, I will take advantage of this opportunity to let you know that most of the care info offered for this species is wrong and based on old incorrect assumptions about how they live in the wild. After many years of experimentation, trial and error and research, here is the correct care info for this species that hatches at the start of the monsoon season:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I actually did what you said and it is gone. It's just weird cause it hadn't been there before. Also thank you for all the extra information. I've actually referred to this forum a lot during my research.

Again, thanks!
 
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Bee62

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Hello Gynni and welcome to the forum.
I have a question: Is it an artificial gras carpet your tortoise sits on ( the first picture ) ? I hope this carpet is not in the enclosure of your little tort. Because your tort could eat little pieces of the artificial gras and that would not bee good.
Would you please show us pictures of the enclosure of your tort ? And what about the temps you have in the enclosure ?
I didn`t ask to annoy you. It is only that your lillte tort should stay healthy. Sometimes new owners make mistakes without knowing it.
 

Gynni

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Hello Gynni and welcome to the forum.
I have a question: Is it an artificial gras carpet your tortoise sits on ( the first picture ) ? I hope this carpet is not in the enclosure of your little tort. Because your tort could eat little pieces of the artificial gras and that would not bee good.
Would you please show us pictures of the enclosure of your tort ? And what about the temps you have in the enclosure ?
I didn`t ask to annoy you. It is only that your lillte tort should stay healthy. Sometimes new owners make mistakes without knowing it.

Hello,
Thanks for the concern. It is not artificial grass, it is a carpet that was sold to us at the pet store for their enclosure. But I've been doing a lot of research and actually purchased some cypress mulch for them this weekend. Which is being put in tomorrow. The enclosure they are in is a tortoise house made by Zoo Med. As for the temps, the enclosure gets to about 60 at night and is at 80 to 95 during the day.
 

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Gynni

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Here are some more pictures. I'd appreciate any advice you might have for me. And again thank you.
 

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JoesMum

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Here are some more pictures. I'd appreciate any advice you might have for me. And again thank you.
Hi Gynni

Please read the links Tom posted at the start of this thread.

He is an expert in raising healthy sulcatas and your current enclosure is far from perfect. Ignore anything you have been told before and follow Tom's advice.

These two should not be kept as a pair either. They aren't social and another tortoise is just competition for space and food. Sulcata fights can be bloody. Cuddling up is more subtle bullying - one making sure the other knows it's not welcome. They should be housed separately.
 

Bee62

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Hi Gynni,

please buy as soon as possible a CHE ( ceramic heat edmitter ) for higher night temps.
60 F is way to cold for a baby sulcata.
Please, please increase the temps quickly. I am really afraid that your torts could get sick! Without higher temps they cannot digest and will stop eating and to be active.
And your day temps should be higher too. Under the basking lamp / area 103 F and in the "cooler" side 80 F.
Your enclosure is open at the top ? Then you have problems to keep warmth and humidity high.
Your little torts need high humidity too. Night and day 75 - 85 %, but first you have to increase your temps.
Without high humidity your little ones get quick dehydrated and their kidneys will be damaged. Shell pyramiding is another problem in a dry enclosure.
In nature sulcata babies hatch in Monsum time, when it is wet all around them and warm too.
Change the carpet in the enclosure to the new soil and moist the soil well.
And please read the care sheets for sulcatas in this forum. Pet stores often give false informations about sulcata babies.
Please change the things I`ve told you quick, because of the health of your little torts.
 

Gynni

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You're welcome! :)

Hi Tom,
I was wondering if you might be able to offer some more advice?
So I am wondering what to do about getting two tortoises? From reading your posts, you recommend only having one, what should I do now that I have the two? I do not have space to house them separately and I would not want to take one back to the pet store because I don't think they where being taken cared of properly.

Thanks
 

Gynni

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Joined
Mar 15, 2017
Messages
8
Hi Gynni,

please buy as soon as possible a CHE ( ceramic heat edmitter ) for higher night temps.
60 F is way to cold for a baby sulcata.
Please, please increase the temps quickly. I am really afraid that your torts could get sick! Without higher temps they cannot digest and will stop eating and to be active.
And your day temps should be higher too. Under the basking lamp / area 103 F and in the "cooler" side 80 F.
Your enclosure is open at the top ? Then you have problems to keep warmth and humidity high.
Your little torts need high humidity too. Night and day 75 - 85 %, but first you have to increase your temps.
Without high humidity your little ones get quick dehydrated and their kidneys will be damaged. Shell pyramiding is another problem in a dry enclosure.
In nature sulcata babies hatch in Monsum time, when it is wet all around them and warm too.
Change the carpet in the enclosure to the new soil and moist the soil well.
And please read the care sheets for sulcatas in this forum. Pet stores often give false informations about sulcata babies.
Please change the things I`ve told you quick, because of the health of your little torts.

Thank you and I will work on those temps ASAP!
 

Gynni

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Messages
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Hi Gynni

Please read the links Tom posted at the start of this thread.

He is an expert in raising healthy sulcatas and your current enclosure is far from perfect. Ignore anything you have been told before and follow Tom's advice.

These two should not be kept as a pair either. They aren't social and another tortoise is just competition for space and food. Sulcata fights can be bloody. Cuddling up is more subtle bullying - one making sure the other knows it's not welcome. They should be housed separately.

Thank you!
 

Bee62

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Thank you and I will work on those temps ASAP!

That`s good.
I have another question: Do you soak your torts? To be soaked daily for 20 minutes in warm water is necesarry for the health of little baby torts too.
I write all these advices because I have 3 sulcata babies too. They are 8 months old. They are healthy because I do the things the way that I wrote you.
 

Gynni

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That`s good.
I have another question: Do you soak your torts? To be soaked daily for 20 minutes in warm water is necesarry for the health of little baby torts too.
I write all these advices because I have 3 sulcata babies too. They are 8 months old. They are healthy because I do the things the way that I wrote you.

I actually do soak them everyday for 20 to 30 min.
And seriously thanks for the advice.

I have a question, you said you have 3 baby sulcatas.... do you keep them together? Are you going to house them together when they get older? What is your advice on have more than 1?

Thanks
 

Bee62

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I actually do soak them everyday for 20 to 30 min.
And seriously thanks for the advice.

I have a question, you said you have 3 baby sulcatas.... do you keep them together? Are you going to house them together when they get older? What is your advice on have more than 1?

Thanks

Yes I have 3 sullys and I keep them together. I bought them before I found this forum and the advices of the experienced sulcata owners.
I always keep an eye on them, but til today I have not noticed any agressive behavior between the three torts.
I have enough space to seperate them if they will develop aggressiveness when they get older, but I hope I don`t must do that. I want to keep them as a group but I don`t know if that works.
I have been told here that a pair of sulcatas do not work good together, but in a group it may be possible. I don`t know because I have no experience with this tortoises. So I can give you no advice.
I feed mine a lot that they must not fight to get food and I weight them every week. If all three babies gain steady in weight and growth
I will not seperate them.
 

Tom

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Hi Tom,
I was wondering if you might be able to offer some more advice?
So I am wondering what to do about getting two tortoises? From reading your posts, you recommend only having one, what should I do now that I have the two? I do not have space to house them separately and I would not want to take one back to the pet store because I don't think they where being taken cared of properly.

Thanks

If you can't house them separately and don't want to return one, then give one to someone who will care for it properly. Or sell it here on the forum.

It is pairs that are the problem. Groups of juveniles are usually okay. 3 or more generally works fine. It when people have just two living together that we see issues.
 

JoesMum

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Don't forget that both of these tortoises will very rapidly grow to 100lb+ bulldozers.

Separation is inevitable. You are going to need to start thinking ahead to very large, very strongly walled outdoor accommodation and night boxes for each of them.
 

teresaf

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I also got two tortoises before I found out it was bad idea. It happens ALOT. I kept mine together thinking I would notice if one was being bullied. I noticed all right! One day during their soak one opened his mouth and leaned forward to take a bite out of the others face! Luckily Burmese black mountain torts do EVERYTHING in super slow-mo! I was able to tap him on his head to stop the behavior. Fortunately I have room for several enclosures. I am looking for another female burmese black though. About 9" if anyone knows someone...lol
 

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