Plastron

[Burgesj]

This is my 2 year old sulcata's plastron. Does this look normal? I'm specifically questioning the bottom part which looks very narrow to me.

 

[Tom]

Not normal. I don't know what would cause that or what to do about it. Its an anomaly.

 

[Burgesj]

Not normal. I don't know what would cause that or what to do about it. Its an anomaly.

Thank you for your reply. Maybe a vet visit is in order.

 

[TeamZissou]

Someone a while back had a sulcata with anal scutes that grew together like that. I did some searching but could not find it. I believe the consensus was that it would be very difficult to keep the area consistently clean/poop free, and that breeding would be difficult/impossible. Not being able to keep the area clean may lead to other difficulties for the tort.

@zovick

 

[zovick]

Someone a while back had a sulcata with anal scutes that grew together like that. I did some searching but could not find it. I believe the consensus was that it would be very difficult to keep the area consistently clean/poop free, and that breeding would be difficult/impossible. Not being able to keep the area clean may lead to other difficulties for the tort.

@zovick

Those two anal scutes are definitely not growing properly/normally. It will be very difficult for that tortoise to reproduce (a good thing considering its problem) as well as to defecate normally as it gets larger as Brent said.

A good reptile vet might be able to surgically remove those two scutes to give the tortoise a better future. Alternatively, you could consider euthanizing it and starting over with one which has no problems.

 

[Tom]

Thank you for your reply. Maybe a vet visit is in order.

Most vets will have no clue what to do with that and will probably want to give your tortoise an unnecessary "vitamin injection" and charge you a bunch of money for nothing.

 

[Burgesj]

Someone a while back had a sulcata with anal scutes that grew together like that. I did some searching but could not find it. I believe the consensus was that it would be very difficult to keep the area consistently clean/poop free, and that breeding would be difficult/impossible. Not being able to keep the area clean may lead to other difficulties for the tort.

@zovick

Thank you.