Greetings!
I'm new to the forum, and have a couple questions I'm hoping to get some help with.
I did some quick searching and may have found my answers but I'd like to verify before I take them as gospel.
(Background Story)
I have a Sulcata that was kinda dumped on me a few years ago. I have experience with a pretty large array with animals, did some research on diet, habitat, etc and have been going with it.
When I got him he was about the size of a softball, now he is about the length of a tissue box and decently rounded. He has pyramid (He had it before I got him). I've tried to keep his diet to a free feed of grasses (Timothy hay, alfalfa, and wild grasses) 1-2 times a week I give him spring mix lettuce. On occasion (like once every 3 months) I give him a couple berries (strawberry or raspberry), I also throw in some broccoli as a treat.
During the summer I let him roam around the yard / grass for a few hours every couple days. In the winter I tend to keep him in doors (Northern California currently, moving to the desert soon).
He crawls all over his tank and is about to be upgraded from an 18" wide 60" long to. 72" long 36" wide tank in 2 days (moving). He has multiple day/night bulbs and ceramic heat lamps.
He loves to move around and make caves in his grass piles and sleeps under them.
(Concerned part)
So here is where I am concerned. I noticed today that the shell on his back toward his rearend was no longer rounded out and seemed to be sinking inward/flattening a little and the top shell seemed softer than it should be.
It doesn't feel leathery, and it's not soft but it has some give along the joints of the scales like if you touch it, it pushes in and springs right back.
He is not lethargic (very spunky tortoise) and I do not see any deformities on legs or head/neck.
(Actual Questions)
It would seem based on my reading that I need to increase his calcium intake and he needs to get out into the sun more for Vitamin D.
Is that the correct prognosis?
Whatelse can I do for him?
I'm new to the forum, and have a couple questions I'm hoping to get some help with.
I did some quick searching and may have found my answers but I'd like to verify before I take them as gospel.
(Background Story)
I have a Sulcata that was kinda dumped on me a few years ago. I have experience with a pretty large array with animals, did some research on diet, habitat, etc and have been going with it.
When I got him he was about the size of a softball, now he is about the length of a tissue box and decently rounded. He has pyramid (He had it before I got him). I've tried to keep his diet to a free feed of grasses (Timothy hay, alfalfa, and wild grasses) 1-2 times a week I give him spring mix lettuce. On occasion (like once every 3 months) I give him a couple berries (strawberry or raspberry), I also throw in some broccoli as a treat.
During the summer I let him roam around the yard / grass for a few hours every couple days. In the winter I tend to keep him in doors (Northern California currently, moving to the desert soon).
He crawls all over his tank and is about to be upgraded from an 18" wide 60" long to. 72" long 36" wide tank in 2 days (moving). He has multiple day/night bulbs and ceramic heat lamps.
He loves to move around and make caves in his grass piles and sleeps under them.
(Concerned part)
So here is where I am concerned. I noticed today that the shell on his back toward his rearend was no longer rounded out and seemed to be sinking inward/flattening a little and the top shell seemed softer than it should be.
It doesn't feel leathery, and it's not soft but it has some give along the joints of the scales like if you touch it, it pushes in and springs right back.
He is not lethargic (very spunky tortoise) and I do not see any deformities on legs or head/neck.
(Actual Questions)
It would seem based on my reading that I need to increase his calcium intake and he needs to get out into the sun more for Vitamin D.
Is that the correct prognosis?
Whatelse can I do for him?