changes to shell

[George]

To get over the news that what i thought was my beautiful baby girl (george) is actually my handsome little boy - i thought i would ask an unrelated question!

i read on the net that star tortoise's start to form their 'lumps' on the shell from about one year old and it is usually their centre ones - does anyone know is is this is correct?

leanne

 

[Starry night]

Not all stars have pyramids. I think usually the Sri Lankans will show my lumps or pyramids. I think it also depends on the parents or maybe just the genetics of the tortoise. I have two tortoises that are not even a year and I got them in November and they already had the lumps which you are speaking about. I have seen some Sri Lankans that were over a year old and were still very smooth. We should wait to hear from Dough as from what I can tell so far he is one of the more experienced breeders and keepers here. I'm only speaking from what I have seen so far. It's ideal to keep the pyramiding to a minimum if you can. I think it still has to do with the genetics of the parents.

 

[Starry night]

OOps. I hate when I post with typing errors. I feel like such an idiot. Anyways, here is some pictures of my two Sri Lankans which I got in November and they were about 6 months or so I think. You can see they have raised scutes already.

 

[samstar]

OOps. I hate when I post with typing errors. I feel like such an idiot. Anyways, here is some pictures of my two Sri Lankans which I got in November and they were about 6 months or so I think. You can see they have raised scutes already.

My female star looks exactly like yours, mine just might be Sri Lankan! Will have to post photos soon.

 

[George]

Does this growth look natural? still seems smooth don't believe it is Pyramiding - what's your opinion?

leanne

 

[Starry night]

Pretty tortoises. Wait for a guy like Doug to answer about their growth. They look good and normal to me but you can wait to hear from a much more experienced breeder/guru.

 

[samstar]

Wow beautiful

 

[George]

Many thanks guys! i think my babies are great too!

 

[Starry night]

where are you located George?

 

[George]

where are you located George?

Wallington in Surrey, England

 

[elegans]

They look like good looking SriLankans to me. Do you know of there "actual" origin? If they are Sri's I would say no worries, my Indians on the other hand under the exact same conditions were almost smooth. Though I am not nearly as paranoid as some keepers about animals looking exactly like their wild counter parts. They are beautiful! Congratulations. Douglas

 

[George]

They look like good looking SriLankans to me. Do you know of there "actual" origin? If they are Sri's I would say no worries, my Indians on the other hand under the exact same conditions were almost smooth. Though I am not nearly as paranoid as some keepers about animals looking exactly like their wild counter parts. They are beautiful! Congratulations. Douglas

Many thanks for your reply Douglas - I brought them from Marcus Langford who, it is my understanding, breeds only indian stars, i will increase their humidity just in case these lumps aren't the positive kind!

 

[stells]

Taken from Marcus's website... www.startortoise.co.uk

Everything I have researched about them leads me to believe that mine are the larger more colourful race that originate from Sri Lanka and my adults bred, and I hatched my first babies in 2002. This has been an annual event since and I am currently the most successful UK breeder (only a few people have managed to breed Indian Stars to date) of this wonderful tortoise and one of the top Indian Star breeders in Europe.

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Please note though... that there is no genetic difference between a Sri Lankan and an Indian... they are the same thing just from a different range...

 

[TortieLuver]

Beautiful looking torts! Looks normal to me!

 

[George]

Taken from Marcus's website... www.startortoise.co.uk

Everything I have researched about them leads me to believe that mine are the larger more colourful race that originate from Sri Lanka and my adults bred, and I hatched my first babies in 2002. This has been an annual event since and I am currently the most successful UK breeder (only a few people have managed to breed Indian Stars to date) of this wonderful tortoise and one of the top Indian Star breeders in Europe.

---

Please note though... that there is no genetic difference between a Sri Lankan and an Indian... they are the same thing just from a different range...

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I did shrink my pages to check the similarities between mine and samstars as his had been decribed as indian stars and i thought they looked the same, not fussed what they are as long as the care i provide is the correct one - stells do you think the lumps are OK or should i be increasing humidity to try and develop a smoother shell? worried about the dreaded respiratory probs that can come with the increase - what do you think?

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Beautiful looking torts! Looks normal to me!

Many thanks TortieLuver - everyones opinions/ comments are very much appreciate - it is always nice to know you are doing it right for your babies!

 

[samstar]

But mine do look very similar to yours, maybe I have a little chance of it being Sri Lankan?

 

[Kristina]

I am not experienced with Stars, but my general understanding is that warm + humid = okay, damp + humid = respiratory issues. Does this hold true for tars as well? If so, I would think that you could increase humidity, as long as you don't let them get chilled.

I know a lot of people say about Leopards (which are also prone to respiratory issues) that they can be kept in more humid conditions as long as they have a period of time to "blow out" the moist air from their lungs. I think this means keep them basically humid, but put them somewhere for a period each day where it is dryer, whether it is outside or a dry tub in a dry room.

Would any of that apply to stars?