Is he okay??

[addyson123]

Hi ya’ll I’ve had my Russian for about 2 months now and all has been going very well but I was noticing a few things. His shell has a few raised bumps as well as a few chipped off pieces. I bathe him every two days for at least 20 minutes and have a uvb and heat lamp in his enclosure. The other thing was he has a sort of reddish dried skin around his mouth. I just wanted to know if all of this is normal. (I’m attaching pics btw)

 

[ZEROPILOT]

What kind of heat lamp is it and how close is it to the tortoise?
Also, can you tell the temperature under that lamp?
(Youd need a digital non contact thermometer, less than $25)
A Russian with scrapes is 100% normal. But to me, the raised areas look like burn marks.

 

[SweetGreekTorts]

The 3 white areas of the shell are from previous damage, and shell bone is exposed. It will heal in time, nothing to worry about.

That bumpy part is normal too, very evident on wild-caught tortoises. They are rarely ever as smooth as captive-bred tortoises that were raised in very different conditions.

 

[addyson123]

The 3 white areas of the shell are from previous damage, and shell bone is exposed. It will heal in time, nothing to worry about.

That bumpy part is normal too, very evident on wild-caught tortoises. They are rarely ever as smooth as captive-bred tortoises that were raised in very different conditions.

Thanks so much! I was worried it was because of a calcium deficiency.

 

[addyson123]

What kind of heat lamp is it and how close is it to the tortoise?
Also, can you tell the temperature under that lamp?
(Youd need a digital non contact thermometer, less than $25)
A Russian with scrapes is 100% normal. But to me, the raised areas look like burn marks.

The lamp is probably over a foot above where he is usually, and it’s just a standard 75 watt ReptiBasking Spot lamp.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

View attachment 280439
The lamp is probably over a foot above where he is usually, and it’s just a standard 75 watt ReptiBasking Spot lamp.

Then I would agree that they are not burns.

 

[addyson123]

Then I would agree that they are not burns.

Good, I got him from a pet shop (I know they aren’t the most reliable but my brother worked there and knew that they took care of the animals) so I assume it was from his past as a wild tort.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Good, I got him from a pet shop (I know they aren’t the most reliable but my brother worked there and knew that they took care of the animals) so I assume it was from his past as a wild tort.

Wild caught are always beat up and often the pet shops keep multiple Russians together and they LOVE to fight.
They are probably the scrappiest tortoises pound for pound.
Back before the internet.....And before I knew better.....I had a tiny Russian tortoise chase around my herd of Redfoot like a sheep dog.
I was tortoise sitting for my brother.
It wasn't easy.
My only first hand experience with a Russian tortoise.

 

[addyson123]

Wild caught are always beat up and often the pet shops keep multiple Russians together and they LOVE to fight.
They are probably the scrappiest tortoises pound for pound.
Back before the internet.....And before I knew better.....I had a tiny Russian tortoise chase around my herd of Redfoot like a sheep dog.
I was tortoise sitting for my brother.
It wasn't easy.

Haha yes he isn’t scared of my dogs at all but they are terrified of him! I do know that the Russians there were kept together and in a fairly small inclosure so it’s very possible.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Haha yes he isn’t scared of my dogs at all but they are terrified of him! I do know that the Russians there were kept together and in a fairly small inclosure so it’s very possible.

Be careful with your dogs.
You probably already know this. Even the best behaved dogs can just one day decide that a tortoise is a chew toy.
Hearing about dogs chewing on a tortoise is just as common as posts about a Russian tortoise with battle scars.
And the owner is ALWAYS shocked.

 

[addyson123]

Be careful with your dogs.
You probably already know this. Even the best behaved dogs can just one day decide that a tortoise is a chew toy.
Hearing about dogs chewing on a tortoise is just as common as posts about a Russian tortoise with battle scars.

Oh yes I know, it’s mostly through the fence when they see me playing with him in our backyard.