CRUSTY HEAD

[shmily1605]

Ok so this is my first question. I knew it wouldn't take me long I have pics up of my baby sulcatas I just got so you can see. The youngest has a real crusty head!?! He even has a big flake on his neck you cant see and he wont let me get. This little guy was lost for seven days during shipping! He is still doing great. So in my opinion I am guessing he has flaky skin on his head because he was dehydrated during those seven days. I want to know what ya'll think though.

BTW Im saying he because he acts like a little guy and the other acts like a lady. Watch me have it all backwards.

 

[DeanS]

Post some pictures...hopefully he's just slamming his face in his food or shedding...

 

[movealongmosey]

I always wondered if tortoises shed...
LIKE A SNAKE! hiss hiss

 

[DeanS]

Oh yeah!

 

[shmily1605]

Well I was thinking it was dehydration which causes dry skin in humans (Im a nurse) The first 2 are of the baby. Im gonna get a better pic of him tomorrow. The 3rd is the older one by about 3 months. Her head looks fine but she wasnt lost during shipping like he was.

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Well I was thinking it was dehydration which causes dry skin in humans (Im a nurse) The first 2 are of the baby. Im gonna get a better pic of him tomorrow. The 3rd is the older one by about 3 months. Her head looks fine but she wasnt lost during shipping like he was.

The bottom pic; thats pumpkin on her face. I figured she deserved a treat after she went through shipping.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Lost for 7 days during shipping? She deserves more then pumpkin. What a little survivor!!! Most tortoises shed but it would look like a sheet of thin skin. Your pictures aren't good enough for me to see. You could try again and take them outside and just use the sun and not your flash...but *most* of the time it's just normal shedding.
Dehydration is a good call tho, so be sure to soak them every day for about 10 minutes. If they are going to drink they will do it as soon as you put them in the water. 10 minutes is long enough for the drink and a little soak. But please be sure to do that everyday while they are small...It's really important, once they get dehydrated it becomes a serious thing so you want to avoid it at all cost...

 

[Yvonne G]

Hard to tell from the pictures, but I'm thinking its some sort of food stuck on his head.

 

[shmily1605]

Hard to tell from the pictures, but I'm thinking its some sort of food stuck on his head.

I dont think it is because there is a pretty big piece on his neck and it just looks like his skin flaked. Who knows I just want to make sure it was not anything serious. Hopefully it gets better. Thank for ur help

O are you talking about the last pic?

 

[Yvonne G]

No, you're right about the flaking on his neck. That IS flaking skin, normal, leave it alone. I was talking about the crustiness all over his eyes and the top of his head. To me that looks like some sort of prepared tortoise food that has been wetted and now is stuck all over his head.

 

[shmily1605]

No, you're right about the flaking on his neck. That IS flaking skin, normal, leave it alone. I was talking about the crustiness all over his eyes and the top of his head. To me that looks like some sort of prepared tortoise food that has been wetted and now is stuck all over his head.

It may be. I think the lady I got him from was feeding him Mazuri. Not sure if I spelled that right. Im not feeding him any processed tort foods so maybe it will go away.

 

[shmily1605]

Lost for 7 days during shipping? She deserves more then pumpkin. What a little survivor!!! Most tortoises shed but it would look like a sheet of thin skin. Your pictures aren't good enough for me to see. You could try again and take them outside and just use the sun and not your flash...but *most* of the time it's just normal shedding.
Dehydration is a good call tho, so be sure to soak them every day for about 10 minutes. If they are going to drink they will do it as soon as you put them in the water. 10 minutes is long enough for the drink and a little soak. But please be sure to do that everyday while they are small...It's really important, once they get dehydrated it becomes a serious thing so you want to avoid it at all cost...

Yeah I will try to take some better pics today when I let them go outside and play. I do soak them everyday but for 20 min. Thanks for your input.