Baby red foot, dry funky shell

[Tortooooga]

Hello all, I am new here and a new tortoise dad. Just received 2 baby RFs a few days ago. One looks very healthy while the other is dry around the edges and has a funky looking plastron. Should I be concerned or wait and see how he does in a proper enclosure with the right temp/humidity?

 

[TammyJ]

Hi and welcome. Calling the experts here for you...the tortoises do look different from each other. They should be kept separate in any case. @ZEROPILOT @Tom

 

[ZEROPILOT]

They look pretty normal to me.
Just some variation in the yolk sac healing.
Give them daily soaks and they'll both smooth out

 

[Tom]

Hello all, I am new here and a new tortoise dad. Just received 2 baby RFs a few days ago. One looks very healthy while the other is dry around the edges and has a funky looking plastron. Should I be concerned or wait and see how he does in a proper enclosure with the right temp/humidity?

They should never be kept in pairs. Have a separate enclosure for each one. This is a pretty good care sheet:

Redfoot and yellowfoot tortoises

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Tortooooga]

Thank for for the responses.

I ordered 1 baby and received 2! Can I keep them in the same enclosure while they are young or do I need to seperate immediately? I was not prepared for 2 enclosures. I am still struggling to get the temp/humidity right in just one.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thank for for the responses.

I ordered 1 baby and received 2! Can I keep them in the same enclosure while they are young or do I need to seperate immediately? I was not prepared for 2 enclosures. I am still struggling to get the temp/humidity right in just one.

Although the issue probably won't be obvious at that size and age, it's stressful for them and it'll cause health issues.
They're solitary animals
I didn't realize you had them together.

 

[Tortooooga]

Although the issue probably won't be obvious at that size and age, it's stressful for them and it'll cause health issues.
They're solitary animals
I didn't realize you had them together.

Dang, I was hoping they would be ok for a while. I will get started on making a new enclosure. My current setup is only 36x17 so splitting in half would be too cramped. Thanks for the help! I have a lot to learn

 

[Yvonne G]

It just might possibly be the start of shell rot or fungus. Wouldn't hurt to treat him with a couple applications a day of athlete foot cream. The plastron issue just may be why they sent you two instead of the one you ordered. . . they didn't want to have to mess with clearing up the plastron.

You can try keeping them together and see what happens. Here are a couple helpful hints to see if it would work - keep them in a VERY large, well planted enclosure with more than two shelter, waterers, feeding tiles, etc. The plants act a sight barriers and if they can keep out of each others' sight it's a good thing.

 

[Beasty_Artemis]

Coconut oil is very good for shells, and it's an anti fungus medication naturally

 

[Beasty_Artemis]

But those two babies are super tiny little hatchling! So cute!
I would just flip out if I got a second hatchling with my single baby order... super lucky. I had to order two eggs to hatch in my incubator once. So tiny.