Is this plastron normal?

[Remnence]

This is Sherman, a Hermann's tortoise he's nearly 3 months old and 2 inches in length (just shell not including his head). His plastron is still somewhat soft, not leathery, mushy or wet but it has some give where the crossed seams meet in the center. Also, the vertical seam going from head to tail seems to jut out just a little bit and is slightly pink. I'm worried something may be wrong but had also read it can take longer for some hatchlings' plaston's to harden. Here's a picture.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Chuck:

Its probably perfectly ok. The "jutting" out of the center seam is just new growth. It might help to keep him a little bit moister than you are. Do you have perfectly dry substrate, or is it a bit moist?

The softness is ok too. It takes a while for them to firm up. Just be sure to feed him calcium-rich foods and get him out in the sun as much as you can.

 

[Remnence]

Hi Chuck:

Its probably perfectly ok. The "jutting" out of the center seam is just new growth. It might help to keep him a little bit moister than you are. Do you have perfectly dry substrate, or is it a bit moist?

The softness is ok too. It takes a while for them to firm up. Just be sure to feed him calcium-rich foods and get him out in the sun as much as you can.

Thank you for the response! I spray the substrate once a day so it doesn't get TOO wet, I use cypress mulch and had a problem with too much moisture awhile back so I cut back on how much I misted. Lately when I take him out into the sun he instantly hides in the shade so I just take him back inside after a few minutes. It's been over 100 degrees lately here in Michigan with high humidity maybe it's just to hot for him out there.

As for calcium, I've been giving him a supplement without D3 nearly everyday. I spray his food with Zilla Calcium Supplement spray, it's the only one I could find without D3.