The lines between Earp's scutes are usually white, but I have noticed they are darker and shiny now? Is this normal?
Growth lines look weird?
- Thread starter littleginsu
- Start date
The_Four_Toed_Edward
Well-Known Member
What do you think @wellington @Tom ?
They don't stay white or cream. It all looks fine.
The_Four_Toed_Edward
Well-Known Member
Wanted to make sure, since sulcatas aren't really my thing
The actual shell looks very dry, no luster. Might I suggest rubbing in some cold pressed coconut oil, allow it to absorb for about 15 minutes, then polish it off with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth?
Is the tortoise under lights?
Is the tortoise under lights?
Thank you. I was wondering how to moisturize his shell.
No. He isn't under a light, that was my flash to get good photos. He's outside most of the day and I bring him inside at night in a heated enclosure with only CHEs.
We have really hard water here and although I soak him in filtered water, I think it's leaving a residue or drying out his shell. I will try the coconut oil and see if it helps!
Completely normal and what you want to see. When actively growing, the seam spreads and you see white with the epithelial layer forming that white band first, and brand new keratin then filling in. As the new keratin fills in, it is much darker in color. It takes a few years for the newer keratin to lighten to the color of older keratin. So you will have a couple of prgressively lighter bands to each scute - from the darkest at the seam to the lightest at the scute centers.
_The_Beast_
Well-Known Member
I have hard water too. I find it builds up a white mineral layer on my torts shell, particularly the 'bumpy' parts from the original baby shell size (I see less build-up on new growth). I give it a gentle scrub once a week with a soft brush (toothbrush because my tort is only 1 years old) and it comes off. Afterwards I'll do what Yvonne described and apply some virgin cold-pressed coconut oil + wipe it off.
Thank y'all so much!! I have ordered some cold pressed coconut oil and it'll be here tomorrow. Earp will have a spa day on Wednesday, I'll post before and after photos!!
He's too big for CHEs. Those are desiccating the carapace and are very likely to do damage. They are also not effective heat sources for large tortoises, and make it difficult for them to warm their core.
Much better and safer to heat the night box with a mini radiant oil heater, or a Kane mat RHP combo in a smaller box.
Rinse with non-mineralized water, like collected rain water, to keep the hard water stains away. I use one of those handheld pump sprayers for this. Works great!
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Thank you so much for the additional information and advice!
I am in a transition period where I am taking the heating sources except Earp's Kane may to another state to set up a nightbox there, as we will be moving in 6 weeks.
If the room Earp is in at night doesn't get below 70, would it be ok to still use the CHE temporarily, until the move? Will using coconut oil help and repair the dry shell?
If the CHE is far away and not pointing at the tortoise, it can be used to heat a small closed space, like a tortoise box, without ill effect. I just wouldn't want a large tortoises cooking under a CHE for long periods of time.
The Kane mat is great. That helps them to warm their core.
Coconut oil will make the shell look nice and help new growth come in better. I don't think it will "repair" any damage. But I don't see any damage on your tortoise anyway.
Before the spa treatment.
8 hours later after spending the day outside, enjoy the nice weather.
8 hours later after spending the day outside, enjoy the nice weather.
Wow!!
What a difference!
It’s like night and day.
Did you use the coconut oil Yvonne said to use???
Your baby looks WONDERFUL!!
What a difference!
It’s like night and day.
Did you use the coconut oil Yvonne said to use???
Your baby looks WONDERFUL!!
Yes. And I also used a baby toothbrush to brush off some of the hard water build up.Wow!!
What a difference!
It’s like night and day.
Did you use the coconut oil Yvonne said to use???
Your baby looks WONDERFUL!!
