Leopard tortoise uneven shell growth and abnormalities

[PolterGoose]

I recently have adopted a tortoise from a local pet store and this will be my first post. Let me just say all the info from you guys on these forums has already helped me so much so thank you. I have been keeping a close eye on my new tortoise and noticed his shell is growing very uneven. Almost lopsided I would say. He also has a few other weird things going on and I have no idea what could be causing this or if it’s something that already happened to him before I got him. He gets daily soaks, misted, heat lamp, and dark green lettuce and some pellets every day. I’ll attach some pics and any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm a fan of the torts with aberrant scutes, but I don't think that's what we're seeing here. It looks like something is causing the shell on one side to not grow at the same rate as the other side.

It might help if you massage that growth seam with cold pressed coconut oil. Paint the seam with an oil dipped Q-stick, then gently rub the seam, massaging it in.

Please keep us in the loop.

 

[Ink]

Does that wound on his plaston bleed or anything? It almost looks like a puncture wound.

 

[PolterGoose]

I'm a fan of the torts with aberrant scutes, but I don't think that's what we're seeing here. It looks like something is causing the shell on one side to not grow at the same rate as the other side.

It might help if you massage that growth seam with cold pressed coconut oil. Paint the seam with an oil dipped Q-stick, then gently rub the seam, massaging it in.

Please keep us in the loop.

Thanks for the tip, I will try this and keep an update.

 

[PolterGoose]

Does that wound on his plaston bleed or anything? It almost looks like a puncture wound.

I have never seen any blood or anything ooze from it, but definitely looks like something might have got to him before I took him.

 

[TammyJ]

Does that wound on his plaston bleed or anything? It almost looks like a puncture wound.

Suppose that wound was caused by a dog holding the newborn tortoise in its mouth and squeezing it with bite pressure? Could this cause the uneven carapace growth too?