Need some advice/help! (Dent on plastron)

[Cookiesandcream1.]

so I have about a 3 1/2 year old Russian tortoise. He seems healthy and was checked not too long ago by the vests and they seemed happy with him. My concern is I recently noticed this sort of dint in the middle of his belly (plastron) and I don’t think he’s always had this. He still feels solid, I am just worried he has cracked his shell or something or caused himself damage. Any advice? Thankyou

 

[wellington]

I see nothing of concern

 

[Maggie3fan]

Me neither. He'd have to had some sort of trauma to create a crack...looks fine to me

 

[Cookiesandcream1.]

Thankyou, like I say he seems ok in himself, I was just concerned as I haven’t seen that before so was worried he’d knocked it or something.

 

[Tom]

so I have about a 3 1/2 year old Russian tortoise. He seems healthy and was checked not too long ago by the vests and they seemed happy with him. My concern is I recently noticed this sort of dint in the middle of his belly (plastron) and I don’t think he’s always had this. He still feels solid, I am just worried he has cracked his shell or something or caused himself damage. Any advice? Thankyou

I'm not seeing anything wrong either. What dent are you referring to? Can you circle it, or point to it? I just see a normal healthy looking plastron.

I also see a potentially deadly substrate. Looks like you got the usual wrong pet store products and info. Please give this a read and make some necessary changes before it is too late:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Cookiesandcream1.]

Hi. Maybe I am being over cautious. In regards to the substrate, interesting, he’s not had that long whatsoever, what would you suggest and why? We did have bark but he didn’t seem too keen
Thanks

 

[zovick]

so I have about a 3 1/2 year old Russian tortoise. He seems healthy and was checked not too long ago by the vests and they seemed happy with him. My concern is I recently noticed this sort of dint in the middle of his belly (plastron) and I don’t think he’s always had this. He still feels solid, I am just worried he has cracked his shell or something or caused himself damage. Any advice? Thankyou

As male tortoises mature, their plastrons become concave, IE get dented in in the central portion to facilitate breeding. Perhaps that it what you are noticing now since the shell looks fine in the photo.

 

[wellington]

As male tortoises mature, their plastrons become concave, IE get dented in in the central portion to facilitate breeding. Perhaps that it what you are noticing now since the shell looks fine in the photo.

Russians don't concave.

 

[wellington]

Fine grade orchid bark or coconut coir is best or combo of the two.

 

[Cookiesandcream1.]

Thankyou, I will go and buy this tomorrow.

 

[TammyJ]

Can we see a few pics of the tortoise showing the carapace and face?

 

[zovick]

Russians don't concave.

That is the first time I have ever heard that. I will have to check with a few other people to see what they have observed in their animals over the years. I think the plastron looks a little concave in the photo, personally.

The normal male concavity seems to me to be the only explanation for what the OP described as nothing else seems amiss with the tortoise in the photo.

 

[Cookiesandcream1.]

Can we see a few pics of the tortoise showing the carapace and face?

Here he is, sorry not great pictures I know. Like I say we visited a specialist vets about 2 weeks ago and they ensured us he was strong happy and healthy

 

[zolasmum]

Hi. Maybe I am being over cautious. In regards to the substrate, interesting, he’s not had that long whatsoever, what would you suggest and why? We did have bark but he didn’t seem too keen
Thanks

The main problem with the substrate is that it has lots of little white bits in it. Tortoises will often eat the white bits, whatever they are - perlite, chalk, or anything - this may cause impaction in their gut - moss will also do this - and it can kill the poor tortoise. So please take it away and follow Welling's suggestion.
Angie

 

[Cookiesandcream1.]

Hi. I will definitely follow the above advice, I am going to buy some fine grade Orchid Bark tomorrow for him. Thankyou

 

[wellington]

That is the first time I have ever heard that. I will have to check with a few other people to see what they have observed in their animals over the years. I think the plastron looks a little concave in the photo, personally.

The normal male concavity seems to me to be the only explanation for what the OP described as nothing else seems amiss with the tortoise in the photo.

I didn't realize they didn't until a couple years ago when @Yvonne G told me they don't concave

 

[wellington]

That is the first time I have ever heard that. I will have to check with a few other people to see what they have observed in their animals over the years. I think the plastron looks a little concave in the photo, personally.

The normal male concavity seems to me to be the only explanation for what the OP described as nothing else seems amiss with the tortoise in the photo.

Also I have a male and there is no concaving. I figured he was just younger then originally thought but truthfully if he was going to concave, he would have by then, and by now

 

[Tom]

That is the first time I have ever heard that. I will have to check with a few other people to see what they have observed in their animals over the years. I think the plastron looks a little concave in the photo, personally.

The normal male concavity seems to me to be the only explanation for what the OP described as nothing else seems amiss with the tortoise in the photo.

Its true. They are the only species that I know of where the adult males stay flat on the plastron.

I am shocked that you did not know this, but you still know more than all the rest of us combined, even if you didn't know this one detail! This makes your pedestal absolutely no shorter in my mind!

 

[Tom]

...what would you suggest and why?

Please read the linked thread and there is a care sheet at the bottom too.

 

[Cookiesandcream1.]

Just an update. I went out and bought my tort some fine grade Orchid Bark for his enclosure, Thankyou for the help all!