A little help please ?

[Clara12]

Hi I'm very new to this but I noticed that my tortoise has a white/grey spot on its head and I'm a little worried. Can anyone please help me to what this might be I attached a photo of my tortoise as well maybe you've seen it before or something similar. Thank you ❤?

 

[Tom]

Hi I'm very new to this but I noticed that my tortoise has a white/grey spot on its head and I'm a little worried. Can anyone please help me to what this might be I attached a photo of my tortoise as well maybe you've seen it before or something similar. Thank you ❤?

I tired zooming in, but it's blurry. We will need a better close up shot. Is it missing the scales on top of the head? Is it housed alone? Where does the tortoise sleep at night?

 

[Clara12]

I tired zooming in, but it's blurry. We will need a better close up shot. Is it missing the scales on top of the head? Is it housed alone? Where does the tortoise sleep at night?

I'm attaching another one but I zoomed in maybe you can see it better.. It actual has two other tortoise with it and I have a vivarium kind of where they all sleep i leave a heat lamp on at night for them but they are in my room I also cover half of the vivarium kind of because since they are in my room I sometimes have the A/C switched on. Thank you for your quick reply really appreciate it!!

 

[saleena.lewis]

Tortoises should always be housed alone unless you are breeding them. I'd permanently move them all into their own enclosure. It's still hard to tell because obviously we can't see it in person but it almost looks like it's missing a scale on its head. Can we see your enclosure? Also if it's not big enough for all of them they will get super aggressive towards each other and become territorial.

 

[AgataP]

I remember when I had to Russians and as soon as they crossed each other’s path it was a war time. They would make an effort to find each other just to fight. So definitely move them all into separate housing.
Ps. Russians only used as an example

 

[Clara12]

To be fair they were all little when I got them so they all grew up together and I have never seen them get aggressive with each other. They sleep close to each other and eat together it was never a problem. It doesn't seem missing it's like it's turned white.

 

[AgataP]

To be fair they were all little when I got them so they all grew up together and I have never seen them get aggressive with each other. They sleep close to each other and eat together it was never a problem. It doesn't seem missing it's like it's turned white.

“ Two male tortoises can become territorial and will so fight or show aggression towards one another in an attempt to show dominance. Two male tortoises will also show aggression if they wish to mate with the same female. “
Is it possible they are maturing ... naturally and now they are no longer “friends” .....

Do you soak them ?

Just trying to come up with some ideas.....

How big is the enclosure?

 

[Clara12]

Don't know exactly the size but they are still small 2 year olds and I don't know if they are female or males or mixed.
I don't really soak them but the water bowls are a bit big and usually to drink they put there head's in the water kind of but other than that no I don't. I was more worried its a skin condition or something.

 

[Pastel Tortie]

Maybe I missed it, but what kind of tortoises are they?
You said they're two years old? Is that long you have had them?
When did the spot show up?

 

[AgataP]

Don't know exactly the size but they are still small 2 year olds and I don't know if they are female or males or mixed.
I don't really soak them but the water bowls are a bit big and usually to drink they put there head's in the water kind of but other than that no I don't. I was more worried its a skin condition or something.

As you read through this forum and many articles you will see the same things over and over and over .....
don’t keep tortoises together
soak
closed chambers
large enclosure (yes often 2x4 min per tort)
diet

No matter how hard we try we simply can’t monitor a tortoise 24/7

So first thing would be - separate and soak...

I am no expert I am simply following recommendations all the experts on this forum that have the experience.

I don’t know at what age they get territorial - mine is about 6 weeks and when I touch his plants he runs to take them away - pretty sure that’s territorial...

 

[Clara12]

Maybe I missed it, but what kind of tortoises are they?
You said they're two years old? Is that long you have had them?
When did the spot show up?

They could be Marginated tortoise but not sure as I think they were breed in Malta so I can't be really sure as they were a gift to me and one seems a bit different than the others. I only noticed today but it couldn't have been there longer than a day or two because I would have seen it when I feed them. Yes around 2 years old but 1 is younger than the others.

 

[Clara12]

As you read through this forum and many articles you will see the same things over and over and over .....
don’t keep tortoises together
soak
closed chambers
large enclosure (yes often 2x4 min per tort)
diet

No matter how hard we try we simply can’t monitor a tortoise 24/7

So first thing would be - separate and soak...

I am no expert I am simply following recommendations all the experts on this forum that have the experience.

I don’t know at what age they get territorial - mine is about 6 weeks and when I touch his plants he runs to take them away - pretty sure that’s territorial...

I really appreciate your help I will of course try to do what's best for them but like I was saying they don't show aggressive behavior one in particular recognizes my voice and comes out so I can hold her for a little while and they eat together they don't fight over food that's what I've noticed and never found any kind of bruises on them you know. But again I will do as you recommend but I'm really concerned about the white dot on the head.

 

[KarenSoCal]

Have you tried washing it off? Put him in an opaque dishwashing pan in warm (90-95°F) water. Try an old soft toothbrush and gently scrub his head. See if that helps.

You should have been soaking these torts all along to help with hydration. Your water dish needs to be replaced. With that lip the way it is, you said they can drink. But with their unbendable bodies they don't get in the dish. So get a terra cotta flower pot saucer, big enough to completely get into, and sink it down into the substrate til its lip is even with the substrate.

The bullying has already started, but you haven't recognized it as bullying. The behaviors we think are "cute" are anything but. Eating together = trying to hog all the food. Sleeping together = claiming the best spot. Following = chasing. The only reason you have not seen fighting yet is because you have 3 of them. Sometimes groups work, but sometimes they don't. You must be very vigilant, because if biting starts, you could wake up one day to a mauled or dead tortoise.

Your enclosure looks too small for even one tortoise. What is its length and width? There's not enough space for more than one to walk enough to digest its food. And it needs more decor, some enrichment for the tortoise. A plant to hide under, a log to climb, some rocks to break up line-of-sight.

You already said they sleep together...what choice have you given them? There is only one hide. Remember, a tortoise in the wild, exposed out in the open, will be a late night dinner for any predator. It is built in for torts to hide in a hole, or burrow, or under something most of the time. You have forced them to pile up in a box.

We understand that you probably were never told any of this. Most pet shops, some breeders, and lots of individual keepers don't know, or don't care.

If you would, please send pictures of all three...from above, from the side, from below showing the entire plastron, and from the front. We will be able to identify their species. In the meantime, read this care sheet. It applies to your tortoises. It is written aimed at hatchlings, but will give you background info, as well as providing care guidelines for older ones.

Please don't feel overwhelmed. We can help you make changes. Come back with questions. We're happy to explain why we say what we do.

PS: Try to get a clear, in focus pic of the head spot.