Possible Shell Rot?

dylandrea

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Sep 7, 2019
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Mishawaka, Indiana
So I've noticed that when one of my Red Foot tortoises, Buddy, is dry, these white chalky lines show up in the creases of his shell. Buddy is about 1.5 years old. I never thought much of these lines, and they have never worsened over time. Still, I have started to get paranoid that it could be shell rot. He is kept with his sister Ellie, who is a few months younger than him. She does not have these white lines when she is dry.

Tonight I lifted Buddy up and noticed that he's got a strange pattern on his plastron. It's a lighter color than the rest of his shell and only on the sides where the yellow is. This might be for all Red Foots but I just thought I would ask about it as well. Also, Buddy does not have the white lines on his plastron, only on his back.

I have included pictures of Buddy's shell and plastron, his shell has had that defect since birth but I think it makes him special.:)

buddy.jpg buddy2.jpg
 

wellington

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The carapace lines may be marbling. The plastron looks fine.
Are they kept with a high humidity? They need it humid but a dry top layer.
Shell rot usually happens on the plastron.
 

dylandrea

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Sep 7, 2019
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Location (City and/or State)
Mishawaka, Indiana
The carapace lines may be marbling. The plastron looks fine.
Are they kept with a high humidity? They need it humid but a dry top layer.
Shell rot usually happens on the plastron.

Thanks for the quick reply! There is a fairly large portion of sphagnum moss in their container. The rest is forest floor bedding. I set it up as told by the breeder I purchased them from. She is an excellent lady! There is a half log over the sphagnum moss portion and Buddy hides there almost all day, when he isn't eating. He also sleeps there at night. He doesn't hang out under the UVB/heat lamp much, pretty much only when he is eating. He stayed in the shade when outdoors this past summer. He seems to really enjoy being in the moistest areas he can find.

Edit: I soak sphagnum every few weeks and replace it when it gets too dry for them to ensure that the humidity is kept up properly
 

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