Doesn't look right

[Rafaela1]

Hi all I have had my tortoise for a year now she is about 4 years old. Up until June she seemed to be doing really well. Then she stopped eating and seemed to sleep all the time. I read up on possible causes and found that she could be trying to hibernate. So gave her plenty of shallow baths and she seems to have recovered. So now during the day if the weather is good she goes out into large enclosure in the garden and I bring her into tortoise table at night.
She has grown a lot and you can see the growth marks. There are also little dry bits around the edge of her shell.
Am I doing the right thing? Does she look healthy?
I have attached some photos any advice appreciated.
Thank you in advance

 

[Yvonne G]

She looks a lot older than four to me. . . in fact, she looks wild caught - although I might be mistaken.

The wide spaces between the scutes is new growth. If I didn't know the story behind this tortoise I would have guessed it was a wild caught tortoise who grew during periods of not much food, and now it's being fed a steady diet, so it's putting down some fast shell growth.

 

[wellington]

I agree with Yvonne. She does look a bit dry. Do you give her any humidity in the indoor enclosure? A warm humid hide would help. Also how often do you soak? At least once a month would help in warm water for 20-30 minutes. Also have a low sided large clay saucer full of water available 24/7 so she can self soak too.

 

[wellington]

Btw, yes, tortoises should always get outside in warm weather. Be sure it's got enough shade too and a water dish.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

Hi

 

[Rafaela1]

Thank you so much for your replies Yvonne and Wellington. Very interesting I know nothing about her other than she was found in my brother's garden. He took her to a vet and he suggested she was about 3 but not kept well or been out in the wild for a long period of time. Any idea of species? All the vet said was Mediterranean?? She was only 100g when we got her now 300g. How much older do you think she could be?
She always has water available in both enclosures. And I have been trying to bathe her every week.
Thank you again and apologies for the extra questions

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

She's a Russian Testudo horsfieldii. Guessing age is difficult as they all grow at different rates, you can't know unless you have the hatch date.
Try bathing her every couple of days for twenty minutes plus.
And have a read of http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
Lots of very useful info here.

 

[Rafaela1]

Thank you so much Tidgys dad I have read up all about Russian torts now, she definitely looks like them. I am doing most things they recommend which is reassuring.
I have found another mark on her shell which not sure about although after reading lots on shell rot, don't think it is as no soft tissue? Will post a picture.
Thank you again xx

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Looks fine to me.
Just normal growth.
Shell rot would also generally be found on the underside.

 

[Rafaela1]

Thanks again will stop worrying now and get her settled inside for the winter with lamp and keep giving her baths and hope her shell improves.

 

[RosemaryDW]

She was only one hundred grams when you got her? That would be very light full a full grown tortoise. How big is she?

 

[Gillian M]

Hi @Rafaela1 and a very warm welcome to the forum to you and to your cute tort!

Do not worry: you'll get the help you need here.

Give your torts DAILY soaks in warm water and spray her enclosure with water.