Nose line?

[Tom]

That is just staining from the substrate collecting between the head scales.

 

[zovick]

Is it advisable to scrub her or clean her shell I mean she does get a little bit of a smell or funkiness about her just wasn't sure if they're supposed to get cleaned or just let the smell accumulate... LOL

You can clean off the shell by using a regular toothbrush and scrubbing the tortoise's shell while holding the tortoise over a tub of water or a sink full of water (in case you drop it, it's better than dropping it into an empty sink or onto the floor). This keeps food debris (and substrate if/when it is used) from building up on the tortoise and smelling badly.

 

[Cleopatra 2020]

That is just staining from the substrate collecting between the head scales.

as I said earlier she doesn't have substrate she just has a reptile carpet

 

[Srmcclure]

I wonder what you did different to get her grow lines symmetrically around each scute my Rosie just has them up and down the sides and she's starting to pyramid

I'm not 100% sure. I just try to follow Toms care guide as closely as possible...

I'm also thankful I haven't come across any smells... well, except the Tortie bath poop lol. Mine just smell like earth.

 

[Cleopatra 2020]

But in your first post, you said you had used both coco coir and cypress mulch, and the tortoise tried to eat them so you stopped using them. Both of those produce a fine dust which can accumulate in those seams in just a few days and then when the dust gets damp, it may cause stains like what you showed in your photo.

that was in the very beginning with her which was around 5 months ago and she didn't have markings like that till now pretty much or it's just more noticeable now I had recently got her a reptile mat in the last week to give her more padding than which she had with the paper towels she's been on but I'm beginning to wonder if her shell can breathe on it compared to substrate... they need to make it to where the orchard bark is a little smaller than a marble and a little larger than a pea that would be ideal then we wouldn't have to worry about them eating it....

 

[Cleopatra 2020]

You can clean off the shell by using a regular toothbrush and scrubbing the tortoise's shell while holding the tortoise over a tub of water or a sink full of water (in case you drop it, it's better than dropping it into an empty sink or onto the floor). This keeps food debris (and substrate if/when it is used) from building up on the tortoise and smelling badly.

do you use to straight water or maybe mix apple cider 20:1 ?

 

[zovick]

do you use to straight water or maybe mix apple cider 20:1 ?

I use plain water to clean off normal food and substrate stains and debris. However, if the tortoise's shell is getting those white hard water deposits on it, then I use straight white vinegar to dissolve those deposits. I am just careful not to get the vinegar in the tortoise's face or eyes.

 

[saleena.lewis]

She doesn't have substrate I just have her on a reptile mat which I was going to ask about in another post if those are any good thought it smelled a little odd in there but could just be me

She definitely needs substrate. Orchid bark and cypress mulch are great options!

 

[Cleopatra 2020]

She definitely needs substrate. Orchid bark and cypress mulch are great options!

yes I realized this I tried them both before as she tries to eat everything in sight so the breeder recommended I tried paper towels which is what he uses but then I saw the reptile mat in the store and thought at least she would have more padding... so anyway since getting it I've washed it a few times like every other day and there's no more smell in there except a normal humid smell so I'm thinking it would be okay except you're correct about her needing substrate cuz she needs something to burrow in to optimize her living conditions

 

[Cleopatra 2020]

I use plain water to clean off normal food and substrate stains and debris. However, if the tortoise's shell is getting those white hard water deposits on it, then I use straight white vinegar to dissolve those deposits. I am just careful not to get the vinegar in the tortoise's face or eyes.

Well I use bottled water only for her soaks and she only drinks Fiji Water in her saucer so I don't think there's any hard water there never seen any white spots

 

[Cleopatra 2020]

Try getting MinerAll from LLLReptile and sprinkle it twice a week on her foods like you do calcium. But pick different days that you do calcium

doesn't this product have calcium in it? I thought I read it came with calcium and also I read reptocal is garbage and doesn't do much for them

 

[Srmcclure]

doesn't this product have calcium in it? I thought I read it came with calcium and also I read reptocal is garbage and doesn't do much for them

It has a little. I dont use replocal, I use nutrobal for my calcium so I'm not sure how good it is compared to mine...