Hi, i noticed our Russian tortoise has a dark green spot on his shell. The shell is not soft to the touch or raised there. But I see a line that looks like a surface scratch near by. Could the green be a bruise? He's been really active and feisty lately...
Plastron is in good condition...
This is our book shelf - we cut one of the shelves and mounted it as an upper level (and had glass custom cut to make a look out - which is excessive I know ).
I know what you mean, our shelf is about 4x5 because we just don't have the space for more, but Max lives outside for about 3-4...
4x6 or longer is great if you have the space. I book shelf turned on its side with all seams caulked and then coated on the inside with a waterproof varnish is a great option. It gives great depth and length, and it is already prefinished in a color of your choosing. Ikea's great.
If your...
You know, Wellington, thank you, you were right. I think the sun has shifted enough that a potent enough basking spot wasn't available when he needed it. After some more time inside under his mvb, and he's not burrowing anymore. Poor guy was too cold. I never would have thought!!!
Hmmmm, the sun has changed for sure since we're on the way to fall, but there are still quite a few hours of 90+ in his usual basking areas, but he's not coming out to use them. And his hide is heated so it doesn't go below 60, but I will check again - the nights are getting colder, maybe it's...
It's been a long time since I last posted! Our Russian, Max, is now approximately 4 years old. We live in Alberta, Canada, so he has been living in a large outdoor enclosure for the past few months, and will resume life indoors by the end of September.
He has a heated hide in his outdoor...
Here are some pictures to help explain why I'm scratching my head at the source of injury.
Here's the plastron today. Such a change from day to day suggests to me that it was a very fresh injury, no?
The second photo is one corner of the bottom level of the enclosure. It's the only part...
I think that you are right that he had a surface scrape. One application so far of anti-fungal and the white on his plastron is back to black. I think he scraped himself when he hoisted himself up onto his hide which is quite rough on the outside (but was not intended for and has never...
Thank you! I will treat for fungus and dry things out.
So i cover all my bases, if this is an injury, will it heal and go back to normal? I don't know anything about shell injuries or how to treat them or what to watch for. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Yes some rocks and I am guilty of keeping the coir pretty moist because of the dry winter air. Lower levels are nice and moist but the top layer gets dusty within a day. Do you think rot or fungus. He has a stone like hide that is kind of rough that he has started hauling himself up onto.
i know for certain it wasn't there when I last examined him. Problem is it has been at least 3 weeks to a month since I last flipped him over to have a really good look. Maybe longer. So you think an injury? He's been kind of crazy lately, but has nothing to hurt himself on. Never fallen...
What is going on on the lower left where it has turned white? And what do I need to do about it?
About the tortoise - 2-3 year old Russian living in an indoor enclosure on a orchid bark coco coir mix. 100 basking down to 79 in outer corners. Eats grocery store greens, mazuri, weeds and safe...
This is not a standard solution, but mine was really lethargic for a couple months. Like I would unearth him to feed him every other day, and after eating a bit he'd just go right back to sleep. No exploring, pooping or anything. My mvb went last week and I replaced it and he turned around...