Hermann's with shell rot

[Raymo2477]

I have a two year old with shell rot. I knew she had it when I adopted her. I treated it with an antifungal and the rot is gone, but unfortunately about a nickel sized piece of plastron had to be removed. I know the keratin will not grow back, but do I need to patch the hole?

 

[Yvonne G]

Depends upon what you mean by 'hole.' If the keratin only has been removed, then what is exposed under the keratin will die and turn white. This is a perfectly normal happening, and does not cause any health concerns for the tortoise. It takes years, but new bone and keratin is growing UNDER that spot of dead bone. After a long time you will notice that the white spot is starting to raise up, and eventually it will pop off, showing new shell underneath.

If you mean the tortoise now has an opening into the body cavity, then I would assume it should be closed up to keep dirt out and probably the tortoise will need antibiotics to keep infection away.

 

[Raymo2477]

No it's just the kearatin that is gone, the whitish bone is visible.