New Growth? What do I need to change?
- Thread starter hyperturtle
- Start date
This tortoise needs a much higher humidity environment. Pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. Conditions have been, and are currently, too dry for this one.
Additionally, RFs do not need heat lamps. If you've been using a basking lamp, I would immediately remove it. This species needs over-all warm temps around 82-86, day and night, and high humidity, but with a relatively dry surface to prevent shell rot. These conditions are easily achieved and maintained in a large closed chamber type of enclosure, and likely also outdoors during your warmer weather in your part of the world. If you are taking this tortoise outdoors on warm days, be sure there is a lot of shade and cover, and run sprinklers early and often to keep humidity high when the tortoise has access to the desiccating sunshine. Use a thermostat to maintain the correct temperatures indoors for this tortoise.
A technique that I have learned and put into practice in recent years with other species is to rub some cold pressed coconut oil (from Costco) all over the carapace, paying special attention to the growth lines between the scutes. This will help smooth both the growth in drier conditions, like what I have here where I live in the CA desert. You can wipe off any excess with a cloth or paper towel after application. If anyone tells you, or you read somewhere, that this does harm to them in any way, you should know that is not a credible source of tortoise care info. It does not harm them, or "clog their pores", or "prevent their shell from breathing", or any other such nonsense. I know a guy in FL that slathers his tortoises shells with vaseline to prevent mosquitoes and help with smooth growth. He prefers the vaseline to coconut oil because the vaseline has a higher melting point in his perpetually hot climate. He's been doing this for decades and I can assure you, all of his tortoises are alive and well and producing lots of babies.
hyperturtle
New Member
Thank you! I’ve upped the humidity and have a heating mat underneath the enclosure. Would the long heat bulbs that go across the top be better for overhead heat & uvb than a cylindrical dome type uvb and/or ceramic heat emitter? I took your advice and applied some aloe because I have a plant to her shell. She will definitely be outside a lot this summer (safely)!
Tortoises should not be heated from underneath in indoor enclosures. Heat mats aren't safe, and they work against the tortoise's instinct to dig down into the cooler earth when they feel too hot.
RHPs, radiant heat panels, are a great way to maintain ambient temps in a closed chamber type enclosure for any species.
I don't know what aloe does to the shell. Never used that. I'm not sure that it will have the benefit you are looking for. I know that cold pressed coconut oil works, vaseline works, and the store bought turtle shell conditioner works because I've used all three. These are used to keep the growth areas between the scutes more moist for longer. I don't think aloe will do that because it dries out.
VERY IMPORTANT: When upping humidity for a RF, be very careful not to make everything too wet. RFs are prone to shell rot fungal infections in wet conditions. The trick to keeping them more humid when indoors is to reduce ventilation by having a large closed chamber with all the heating and contained lighting inside and reducing ventilation to keep the humidity from drifting away and into the room. this also makes it easier to keep it suitable warm. This type of enclosure allows you to use a thick layer of orchid bark which can remain damp underneath for humidity, but dry-ish on the surface where the tortoise's plastron is in contact with it.
hyperturtle
New Member
Okay, thank you so much! When I am able to make all the adjustments, I will post here!
