Fire injured tortoise is built a 3D printed shell by vets and 3d artist.

[Mr Buster]

"When Freddy the tortoise was caught in a bush fire in Brazil, his chances of survival were slim. But thanks to a group of pioneering surgeons known as The Animal Avengers, Freddy not only survived his ordeal – he is also now the proud owner of the world’s first 3D printed shell!"

http://www.boredpanda.com/tortoise-3d-printed-shell-freddy/

 

[Kristoff]

This is amazing. Thanks for sharing!

 

[JoesMum]

This is amazing. Thanks for sharing!

I completely agree. Fascinating

I can't help wondering if it's as effective for basking as the real thing.

 

[Mr Buster]

They will have to supplement him D3 because the shell is plastic so while he may bask for warmth he would not be able to get the D3 he needs to process calcium. That is just a guess. I like the paint job though.

 

[JoesMum]

They will have to supplement him D3 because the shell is plastic so while he may bask for warmth he would not be able to get the D3 he needs to process calcium. That is just a guess. I like the paint job though.

UVB is absorbed through the skin, not the shell. That hasn't changed.

It's the capacity of the plastic shell to absorb and hold heat that will differ from the original. Putting plastic under a 100F source could melt it!

 

[Prognathodon]

Putting plastic under a 100F source could melt it!

There are *many* different materials that fall under the catch-all term "plastic". I have silicone cookware that's good up to something like 400 F. I read an article about this a couple months ago and so don't remember if it said precisely what was used for the shell, but if they were working with experienced vet/keepers (assumed since the poor critter was pulled through is injuries), I expect the shell requirements were thoroughly discussed, so the new shell isn't going to melt the first time he basks.

 

[Ed mitch]

This is amazing

 

[JoesMum]

There are *many* different materials that fall under the catch-all term "plastic". I have silicone cookware that's good up to something like 400 F. I read an article about this a couple months ago and so don't remember if it said precisely what was used for the shell, but if they were working with experienced vet/keepers (assumed since the poor critter was pulled through is injuries), I expect the shell requirements were thoroughly discussed, so the new shell isn't going to melt the first time he basks.

I'm sure they did, but the fact that it was 3D printed suggests that the plastic has a lower melting point than silicon.

 

[Loohan]

That's interesting. I had assumed that torts had spines that were integral to their shell, like boxies.
Lucky for Freddy, that does not seem to be the case.

 

[Yvonne G]

I thought I read about this before, so I did a Google search. Seems like in 2015 a leopard tortoise was actually the FIRST tortoise to get a 3D shell:

http://gulfnews.com/news/offbeat/leopard-tortoise-gets-3d-printed-shell-1.1482299

The picture of the burned tortoise was horrific. Poor Freddy.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Both Freddy's and Cleopatra's stories are most interesting.
Thanks for posting.

 

[Diamond]

Lookin good Freddy!