Advice please (damaged scute)

[cazb66]

i have a horsfield called Marvin he is around 4 I think I inherited him a year ago, he is kept in a tortoise table he has a lamp for heat and a UV lamp. Previously before I had him he only had a heat lamp. Part of his shell started to feel hollow on top, I took him to my vet who was pretty hopeless and didn't have a clue, promised to take advice and get back to me. I realised later the problem is he had been damaging his shell by banging it in his wooden shelter as he outgrown it, he now has one of the rabbit cane ones which you bend to shape, much bigger and he has plenty of space. The problem now is his topmost scute has lifted off, another seems to be loosening too, the bone underneath seems ok there is no redness at edges just seems solid. What do I do now? He is healthy eating well and extremely active. I'll add pictures. Thank you in advance for any advice... Caroline

 

[wellington]

It should be fine and will heal in time. It will take a long time though. This is not a Russian tortoise though. I'm good at IDing the species it is, but it's not a Russian. Possibly a Hermanns or Greek.
@HermanniChris may be able to tell

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

He'd have to be hitting his shell quite hard to do that. I agree that it will heal and be fine though (and that this is not a Russian tortoise - I think Hermanni). How close are his heat lamps to shell height?

 

[Yvonne G]

More than likely his shell was burned by the light being too close. It's not a Horsefield.

 

[Raymo2477]

100% Hermanns, Eastern most likely.

I've seen injuries like that, most were to to heating injuries.

The scute is dead, but after a long time it should heal. If there is no active wound/infection there is nothing you need to do.

 

[cazb66]

I'm new to tortoises I'll have a google... Thank you for your advice

 

[Yvonne G]

What will you google for? A care sheet? We have the best one right here on our Forum:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

 

[HermanniChris]

It's an eastern Hermann's no doubt about it and the scute should be just fine.

 

[cazb66]

i just meant a google of pics of Hermanns tortoises, I've checked your care sheet on here for him, there isn't that much difference in diet that I can see... His light is on a a stand that's attached to the table so I thought it would be OK, I'm going to go get a thermometer today so I can keep a check on temp in the lit area.. I feel awful that I've caused this with lighting I've had him in an outside enclosure every day for a few hours since the weather has been good.

 

[cazb66]

Thank you everyone for the advice.