Herman Soft Shell

[EsiCrw]

Hello, I am in need of some help.....

I have two Herman Toroises which I have had for just over a year. They were both sold to me as being 1 yrs old. Both of them have been happy and well throughout the winter but one of them has started to seem sluggish and I have noticed he has a soft shell.

I have been reading about the right sort of foods to give them and I think they are getting the right things. I have changed their UV light as I read that it could be that.

I am concerned as it only appears to be one of them that has a soft shell and I dont want the other one to get it.......

Has anyone got any suggested on anything else that I have not thought of????? Or do you know how long the road to recovery is??????

Hope somebody can help and they mean the world to me and want to know that I am doing every thing I can
Thanks
Liz

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Do you add calcium to their diet? If not, start...I use cuttlebone, both dusting their food w/ the powder and leaving a few chunks in their homes for them to gnaw on, as the urge strikes 'em.

Also, be sure they get sunlight as often as possible.

And welcome to the site...this is a really great buch of folks, all of whom go out of their way to be helpful.

 

[egyptiandan]

Welcome to the forum Liz

You do need to supplement with some calcium. Though with an already soft shell cuttlebone may not be enough. In the UK you can get Nutrabol (which is a calcium supplement with vitamin D3), you can also get Reptocal (online) in the UK. You might have to try both as some tortoises may prefer one over the other. It took a while for the tortoise to get this way so should take 3 to 6 months to get back to a hard shell.
Also if possible outside time would help greatly as it's mostly warm and sunny in the UK now.

Danny

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Liz:

Welcome to the forum!!

Just remember that calcium needs the UVB either from the sun or from a good UVB light in order to make the body metabolize the calcium Can't work without it.

 

[EsiCrw]

Hi, Thanks for the quick replies..... I only found this forum today and its nice to know there are people out there willing to offer advise. My two are called Esi and Crw.

As the weather has been nice they have been outside, I try to get them out there as much as possible cause I know its better for them and thats where i intend for them to live.

I was adding a supplement but found that they didnt eat as much so I stopped giving it but will start giving it again.

I have two Hermans which both live together. Any ideas why its only effected one?

Liz