Need Help, Amazon Redfoot Tortoise

[marciaturtle]

My Sister -in-law has a Redfoot Tortoise. Who is now living with us. Two years ago Tortie experienced a crack in his shell. We patched it with Duc-tape and it healed. A few days ago she said she wanted us to look at Tortie because she thought she saw another crack. I am up loading a couple pictures of his shell. I don't see a crack like the last time. And as I was doing some reading on this Forum I am hoping for some help. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ink]

@ZEROPILOT should be able to help you.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

That's just growth between the plates (scutes)
Nothing to be alarmed about.

 

[marciaturtle]

That's just growth between the plates (scutes)
Nothing to be alarmed about.

thank you so much. My Sister-in-law is "special" and she takes care of Tortie so well and was so worried.

 

[Ink]

A "special" person is a wonderful person to have in your life. I would know. She is doing a great job with her tortoise.

 

[Yvonne G]

Your sister's tortoise is very dry. The shell has no luster to it. When you look at your fingernails you see a sort of low shine to them, right? You should also see that on the tortoise's shell. Here's what I mean:

See how it shines? This is accomplished by feeding the correct diet and having the tortoise live in the correct conditions. You need to read our care sheet and make changes to the way you feed and care for this tortoise (the cracks are new growth, like was said above)

Redfoot Tortoise Care Sheet

NOTE: I do not keep redfoots, and I only have one tortoise in total. With this in mind, remember that I am in no way an expert, and this should not be used as cold hard proof of how to raise a redfoot. I used information from great keepers on this forum to put everything together. This care...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Mr. RussianTortoise]

Your sister's tortoise is very dry. The shell has no luster to it. When you look at your fingernails you see a sort of low shine to them, right? You should also see that on the tortoise's shell. Here's what I mean:

See how it shines? This is accomplished by feeding the correct diet and having the tortoise live in the correct conditions. You need to read our care sheet and make changes to the way you feed and care for this tortoise (the cracks are new growth, like was said above)

Redfoot Tortoise Care Sheet

NOTE: I do not keep redfoots, and I only have one tortoise in total. With this in mind, remember that I am in no way an expert, and this should not be used as cold hard proof of how to raise a redfoot. I used information from great keepers on this forum to put everything together. This care...

tortoiseforum.org

Just a question but should every tortoise species have a shiny shell or is it just for red foots?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Your sister's tortoise is very dry. The shell has no luster to it. When you look at your fingernails you see a sort of low shine to them, right? You should also see that on the tortoise's shell. Here's what I mean:

See how it shines? This is accomplished by feeding the correct diet and having the tortoise live in the correct conditions. You need to read our care sheet and make changes to the way you feed and care for this tortoise (the cracks are new growth, like was said above)

Redfoot Tortoise Care Sheet

NOTE: I do not keep redfoots, and I only have one tortoise in total. With this in mind, remember that I am in no way an expert, and this should not be used as cold hard proof of how to raise a redfoot. I used information from great keepers on this forum to put everything together. This care...

tortoiseforum.org

My first thought was also that he/she looked dry. But the smooth condition of the shell carapace changed my mind.
Its relatively smooth. And that only comes from high humidity. Or humidity within the range of what it should be.

 

[TammyJ]

When the shell is clean and wet, it shines, of course. Also when it's oiled and polished! Usually people wash their tortoise for the photos. However, dry looking shells, and pyramiding of the carapace, happen when the tortoise does not have the correct level of humidity day and night.

 

[Yvonne G]

Just a question but should every tortoise species have a shiny shell or is it just for red foots?

Every species' shell should have a bit of a luster to it. . . not real shiny, but sort of an inner glow.