shell health

Hi, I noticed quite a few lines all around my Russian’s lower scutes. I don’t know much about growth and was wondering if they looked concerning of if I am being paranoid? They don’t feel any “softer” than the rest of her shell, but they feel like significant ridges. Also less related, the...

I tried rubbing oil on the area with a toothbrush and it didn't do anything. Maybe it's got something to do with the nutrients he's getting? I've been feeding him dandelions/clovers from the wild so I'm wondering if it could be the result of pesticides, too much oxalic acid or protein...any...

I have recently taken in a small Russian tortoise after it was in the care of a teenager who had started neglecting him. Unfortunately, she used nail glue to secure beads onto his back, and I am not sure how (or if) they can be safely removed. The parent tried using a Dremel on the beads...

Hello !! I’ve noticed this morning a discolouration on the plastron and shell of my almost a year old red foot tortoise. It’s firm, not flaky. I got 2 baby at the same time. This one having the discolouration is growing a lot faster than the other one. What do you think ?

Hi friends! We have a Russian Tortoise and recently noticed that a piece of the back part of his shell chipped off. He's pretty active now but he had a rough start when we rescued him a year ago (malnourished, didn't move legs, no UVB, etc.) so we attributed the chip to climbing or something. He...

Hi everyone, I just noticed while soaking Whiplash, a male Hermann's, that in between his scutes on his carapace it is orange. I have noticed a lot of growth with him since we got him from Petsmart. (I know that's a bad idea, but we had the habitat all set up and were looking for a breeder and...

Hello I picked up a baby star tortoise yesterday, suposidly a sri lanka, it is very tiny. His shell is a bit deformed… but im also concerned about this spot on him. I havnt even had him 24 hours yet… he seems pretty healthy. It almost looks like a mole, in the center of his scute. If anyone...

Hi everyone, As I was examining my marginated tortoise Houdini's plastron this morning after his soak I noticed a black dot beneath the surface of his shell at his left hind leg area. Attaching some pics here for reference. Sorry in advance that the pics came out a bit blurry; I had a hard...

Hello, everyone. I have 2 baby sulcatas about 2 months old. They are active and eat a lot. This evening when I took them to soak, I found white rings on their shells. Is this normal? I’m worried if this is an early sign of shell fungus or shell rot? PS. I come from Thailand. I’m sorry for my...

I’m new to the turtle world, thanks to my toddler finding this one in a swimming pool and not willing to let it go. We have had it going a little over a month now. Very active, not a big fan of the pellet food but we found she likes the frozen cubed foods and blood worms and seems to have a...

Hey guys! Yesterday someone on the forum guessed Otis is between 5-10+ years old. Is there a way I can narrow down a closer guess to how old he is? Also, does his shell look dry and should I be doing anything for it? Currently, I mist him and short soaks. Thanks in advance :)

Does anyone know what this spot is on our new tortoise’s shell is?

Hello! I have had Humphery (my 16 year old, 60ish pounds sulcata) for about 9 years now. He is an annual escape artist... no matter how mush we shore up his yard, he seems to escape one way or another every fall (painters left a gate open, my goats broke a fence, or he burrows underneath. every...