Help! Is this shell rot?

[soph.h]

Help!! Is this shell rot? Colin is a spur-thighed.
I changed his substrate around three weeks ago from straw pellets to orchid bark.
I clean out the poo every time I see it, as well as the bark that is visibly dirty with urates and poo. I haven't yet completely changed the substrate as it says on the bag that it only needs doing every 4 weeks.
The humidity fluctuates between 45-55%, temp is 23°C on the cooler end. I soak him once or twice a week and dry him after with a towel..
I have a vets appointment booked tomorrow as I've noticed a smell as well that seems to be coming from him and everything seems to be pointed towards something being wrong.

Does anyone know whether this is shell rot? What might have caused it if so? How can I prevent it?

 

[Tom]

I see no shell rot or any other problem in the picture.

If you soak more often the tortoise will poop and pee in the soak water and not in the enclosure, AND it will be better hydrated. Soak for 30-40 minutes and keep the water warm the whole time. You can soak every day if you want. That frequency is not "necessary", but it will do no harm either.

No need to dry the tortoise off after rinsing after the soak.

No need to replace the substrate every 4 weeks. Spot clean it daily and it should last for many months.

Be careful with vets. Most of them know very little about tortoise care and will give you all the old wrong advice. Do not let the vet give your tortoise a "vitamin injection". This is unnecessary and potentially harmful, and they all seem to want to do it. Its the hallmark of a vet that doesn't know torts.

 

[Yvonne G]

Man o man. . . I sure don't see what you're seeing. Plastron looks perfectly fine to me.

 

[soph.h]

I see no shell rot or any other problem in the picture.

If you soak more often the tortoise will poop and pee in the soak water and not in the enclosure, AND it will be better hydrated. Soak for 30-40 minutes and keep the water warm the whole time. You can soak every day if you want. That frequency is not "necessary", but it will do no harm either.

No need to dry the tortoise off after rinsing after the soak.

No need to replace the substrate every 4 weeks. Spot clean it daily and it should last for many months.

Be careful with vets. Most of them know very little about tortoise care and will give you all the old wrong advice. Do not let the vet give your tortoise a "vitamin injection". This is unnecessary and potentially harmful, and they all seem to want to do it. Its the hallmark of a vet that doesn't know torts.

Thank you. I was reading about it and probably just paranoid.
I assume by vets you mean ones that are not 'exotic' specialists, or would you say all vets? I'm totally new to the world of tortoises.. only had Colin for a few months! I really appreciate this- thank you again.

 

[soph.h]

Man o man. . . I sure don't see what you're seeing. Plastron looks perfectly fine to me.

Haha yes.. it seems I might have overreacted! Just trying to get things right and I was reading about it online a few days ago and I guess I just got paranoid. New to the world of tortoises and I absolutely adore Colin so just trying my best to keep him happy & healthy (as many people are, I am sure)

thanks so much for the reply.

 

[wellington]

Thank you. I was reading about it and probably just paranoid.
I assume by vets you mean ones that are not 'exotic' specialists, or would you say all vets? I'm totally new to the world of tortoises.. only had Colin for a few months! I really appreciate this- thank you again.

Most all vets even the so called reptile experts don't know about tortoises.
And agree shell looks fine.

 

[Tom]

Thank you. I was reading about it and probably just paranoid.
I assume by vets you mean ones that are not 'exotic' specialists, or would you say all vets? I'm totally new to the world of tortoises.. only had Colin for a few months! I really appreciate this- thank you again.

In my experience, all vets. I know a few good tortoise vets, but they themselves are tortoise keepers, and even some of the stuff they say is all wrong.