Jet's shell progress

[Laijla]

Hi all, Just wanting to add a few pictures to show Jet's shell recovery from the dog bite/chew, show his overall shell growth (I've had him 5 months now and I think he is 8-10 months old ??) plus I'm trying to figure out how to load more than one picture at a time

8-10 months old (2 and 3/4 inch shell)

Comparison view of him 3-5 months old - first day we had him

8-10 months old (tried to eat flowers on blanket! silly tort!)

soaking in enclosure May 2010

dog bite is healing well - section right above head - hard to see now and happened 10 weeks ago

 

[t_mclellan]

Jet looks to be doing very well.

 

[Traveller]

Looking good, you must be so relieved everything turned out for the good.
Jet looks very healthy and well cared for.
Congrats.

 

[kimber_lee_314]

Looking good - I don't even see any damage. Where is it?

 

[Laijla]

Looking good - I don't even see any damage. Where is it?

Bite shows up mostly in last photo...
Hard to believe damage to his carapace is already hard to see! The scute directly over his head had a deep puncture wound (directly under on his plastron was a more shallow bite) that left a bloodly bruise on his head. The top scute bled like crazy and continued to slightly bleed/weep for several days. (***There is a tiny bit of wet sphagnum moss on a scute to the left that blends with his shell - that is not damage of any sort - only scute directly above his head was injured).
I'd asked a few weeks ago if a hatchling shell is a bit like children's skin in the sense it will heal and show less scarring than an adults usually will? I'm still amazed at how, in 10 weeks, such a deep puncture mark can show up so little. I assumed he would have visable damage for years if not forever.
Thanks for the kind words you guys - he seems to be doing great now. Very active in his enclosure, eats and drinks well too
Considering the dog fiasco and the allergic reaction to the Baytril at the vet's office - I know I'm lucky he is still here. I think his nickname should be 'Ironside Jet' now. I think all the enclosure and diet advice I found on this forum (as well as the people I bought him from) kept him healthy enough to handle the stress/trauma. Thanks all!

Laijla

 

[TortieLuver]

He looks GREAT! I would really like to see a picture of your entire setup as a whole if you wouldn't mind showing!

 

[Isa]

He looks very good You must be so happy!

 

[Laijla]

He looks GREAT! I would really like to see a picture of your entire setup as a whole if you wouldn't mind showing!

My camera died and is recharging today Maybe when I get home tonight or tomorrow I'll try and get some overall enclosure pics. I had him in a cement tub but moved him to a bit smaller tub (18"x24") shortly after the dog incident because it was easier to regulate the heat (extra essential for the immune/healing process) during this cold Kentucky winter. I'm in the process of setting up a 75 gallon viv for inside and an outdoor enclosure for when it warms up... So many set ups for a tort that's not even 3" long yet!

Cruising the Internet I have seen hatchlings with much darker shells and much lighter... he seems to be on the lighter more carmel colored side. Should he darken up quite a bit still and usually when does that start to happen? Just curious.

Laijla

 

[ChiKat]

Wow he's gorgeous! I'm glad he's healing so well! I would love to see pics of his enclosure too!

 

[terryo]

Jet is looking great now! I love that name....reminds me of James Dean in Giant....Geeezzz I'm old!

 

[Laijla]

Jet is looking great now! I love that name....reminds me of James Dean in Giant....Geeezzz I'm old!

I like the name Jet too but I have to thank my 11 year old for that - her idea I have mean't to ask where you got Pio's name. After Father Padre Pio?

Gorgeous Katie? ya think? I think he is a bit 'plain Jane' as far as redfoots go but I'm one to opt for the simple black dress and always fancied getting the plain bays with no white markings to groom when they came onto the racetrack... it will be interesting to see how his coloration evolves but for now the mantra is "smooth shell, smooth shell, smooth shell, ommmm"

Laijla