Shell saver?

I came across this stuff online and I didn’t know if this was something I should be using on my tortoise’s shell. I don’t know anything about this product so I was just curious if anyone on here uses it or if it shouldn’t be used. Image attached.
Thanks!!

Personally I think the only thing that should be on the shell of ur tortoise is water or dirt like in nature

U can put something on his shell if he has fungus or an injury ofc

Macy Fidler said:

I came across this stuff online and I didn’t know if this was something I should be using on my tortoise’s shell. I don’t know anything about this product so I was just curious if anyone on here uses it or if it shouldn’t be used. Image attached.
Thanks!!

View attachment 277885

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Macy,
I actually used this exact product on one of my sulcatas from a hatchling. It had no adverse effects whatsoever that I can tell. I put it on after soaking every afternoon.. the sully that I used it on has the smoothest, most perfect shell. I had actually created a thread that includes pictures if you do a search for the shell saver experiment . I wish that I would have used it on the other hatchling as well. I have no scientific data to substantiate my opinions but I believe that it added in holding moisture in the shell.

No.
You don't NEED to use it. Or anything else.
You could...... but that wasn't your question.

Use rare earth mud like in the high end spas. That is filtered dirt with spring water. Or if anyone knows exactly where I would like some baseball mud!

I have been using this exact product on my Burmese Star twice per week after her soak. It doesn't seem to bother her at all and definitely keeps the shell moisturized and hydrated. I've been using it for several months and no adverse affects.

A similar question was recently asked in a FB tortoise group, and when I replied that I applied a mix of coconut, almond, and olive oils to my tortoise once a week, the group admin deleted my comment and threw me out of the group with an explanation that any such treatment of the tortoise's shell can suffocate them as they breathe through the pores in their shells, and that their group did not allow the sharing of such dangerous and faulty advice.

I still apply the mixture to my tortoise's shell once a week, believing that it helps and does not hurt.

One of the reasons that I appreciate TFO is that it's not the kingdom of some petty FB tyrant... discussions and debate about differing schools of thought on tortoise husbandry are allowed, encouraged even.

At the end of the day I'm reasonably certain that a proper diet, in combination with an enclosure that provides your tortoise with their optimal temp and humidity would render shell treatments unnecessary, but I'm similarly certain that such treatments won't hurt your tortoise.

Jamie