Does my butt look ok?

[lismar79]

Harper has had a recent growth spurt & I am just seeking guidance on her development. There seems to be a flat (not round) area on her backside & I have been looking for images to see if this is normal development. I had taken in a rescue Sully this year with a bad case of mbd who died from complications resulting, so I am pretty paranoid with my 8 month baby..... She weighed in today at 360 G!

What do you think? Too flat or normal?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Lisa:

A sloping-towards-the-back-over-the-hips-carapace is a sign of MBD, however, it seems like quite a few captive or pet tortoises have this slope. Just be sure you feed plenty of calcium-rich foods and supply the occasional pinch of calcium powder and your tortoise will be fine.

 

[lismar79]

Thanks Yvonne. She eats cuttlebone often on her own & I do give a pinch of Calcium with D3 twice a week until we can get outside regularly (too cold still). Has a Solar raptor UV light that puts off really good readings.
So this does not look abnormal to you?

 

[Yvonne G]

No, not at all.

 

[lismar79]

No, not at all.

Thank you so much for your reply.

 

[mikeh]

She looks great. MBD depression Yvonne mentions occurs slightly higher and also effects 3rd-4th coastal scutes.

BTW: how do you like your solar raptor? Would love to see a review....distance, UVB reading, temps, area covered, and how much lower is the humidity under the light compared to rest of enclosure, maybe a picture.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Bob was 5 yrs old when my sister asked me to keep him for 2 weeks. He was already pyramided and he has that slope also. That was about 11 yrs ago. Just make sure your humidity is right, (abt 80%) make sure she's getting enough calcium and exercise and dark leafy greens like kale that are high in calcium also. She's gonna have that depression, but you can work a little to keep her from developing MBD...

 

[Jenblalock003]

That scares me! Mine has 1 too, same spot. I attached a picture. But they have a 100 Watt mercury vapor bulb that is only a few weeks old. The first 4 mth yes they were inside because it was too cold but they have been getting out for the last 2 weeks.

Using calcium supplement and a vitamin (just got 2 weeks ago), plenty if humidity.

Now I'm worried!

 

[lismar79]

She looks great. MBD depression Yvonne mentions occurs slightly higher and also effects 3rd-4th coastal scutes.

BTW: how do you like your solar raptor? Would love to see a review....distance, UVB reading, temps, area covered, and how much lower is the humidity under the light compared to rest of enclosure, maybe a picture.

Thanks Mike. I posted my solar raptor findings in this thread today. Thanks for the prompt to do so, I have been meaning too. I really like my Solar Raptor. I have not found anything better!
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/solar-raptor-findings-after-2-months.91243/

 

[lismar79]

That scares me! Mine has 1 too, same spot. I attached a picture. But they have a 100 Watt mercury vapor bulb that is only a few weeks old. The first 4 mth yes they were inside because it was too cold but they have been getting out for the last 2 weeks.

Using calcium supplement and a vitamin (just got 2 weeks ago), plenty if humidity.

Now I'm worried!

Your spot looks like mine & apparently ( & thankfully) its pretty normal so you should be fine if you have the right lighting & Calcium supplements or Calcium rich diet. I would recommend getting a UV meter though. I did not want to spend the $ at first but so glad I did once I seen how much my powersun bulb dropped off.

 

[lismar79]

Bob was 5 yrs old when my sister asked me to keep him for 2 weeks. He was already pyramided and he has that slope also. That was about 11 yrs ago. Just make sure your humidity is right, (abt 80%) make sure she's getting enough calcium and exercise and dark leafy greens like kale that are high in calcium also. She's gonna have that depression, but you can work a little to keep her from developing MBD...View attachment 77951

Thanks Maggie. I am hard at work maintaining the right conditions. Just freaked a little when I seen how pronounced that slope was getting & going through what I went through with the rescue I had named Harley. I would not want another animal to go through what he did. Love your Bob. He is a beauty.
Picture of Harley when I got him in Oct. Put to sleep on Feb 22 from spinal pressure/organ failure

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Sorry to hear about Harley. Those things a tough to go thru....

 

[bouaboua]

Bob was 5 yrs old when my sister asked me to keep him for 2 weeks. He was already pyramided and he has that slope also. That was about 11 yrs ago. Just make sure your humidity is right, (abt 80%) make sure she's getting enough calcium and exercise and dark leafy greens like kale that are high in calcium also. She's gonna have that depression, but you can work a little to keep her from developing MBD...View attachment 77951

Nice butt.

 

[bouaboua]

Harper has had a recent growth spurt & I am just seeking guidance on her development. There seems to be a flat (not round) area on her backside & I have been looking for images to see if this is normal development. I had taken in a rescue Sully this year with a bad case of mbd who died from complications resulting, so I am pretty paranoid with my 8 month baby..... She weighed in today at 360 G!

What do you think? Too flat or normal?

I thought only my wife ask this kind of question. LOL

 

[TortyTom]

My Darwin has that same slope and so does every other Sulcata that I have seen in person. (Granted, not that many) I just thought it was for mating, so the male could hang on better? Haha! Guess not?

 

[simiruco]

Thanks Maggie. I am hard at work maintaining the right conditions. Just freaked a little when I seen how pronounced that slope was getting & going through what I went through with the rescue I had named Harley. I would not want another animal to go through what he did. Love your Bob. He is a beauty.
Picture of Harley when I got him in Oct. Put to sleep on Feb 22 from spinal pressure/organ failure

I am really sorry you had to go through that.