question on shell conditioner/moisturizer

[Pia B]

years ago I bought this stuff called Vita Shell it seems to be off the market . I liked using it once in a while especially after soaking . Recently when I took Speedbump to visit some kids I used a little coconut oil on his shell makes it look nice . Do any of you apply any kind of conditioner / moisturizer on your torts shells ? This may be a dumb question .

 

[JoesMum]

No never. Not in over 40 years.

A shiny shell pleases some people. To me they look best in their natural smooth, scuffed state.

Take care not to apply too much and block the pores in the shell.

 

[Tom]

years ago I bought this stuff called Vita Shell it seems to be off the market . I liked using it once in a while especially after soaking . Recently when I took Speedbump to visit some kids I used a little coconut oil on his shell makes it look nice . Do any of you apply any kind of conditioner / moisturizer on your torts shells ? This may be a dumb question .

This has been the subject of an ongoing debate for many years. One side claims its helpful and harmless, the other side claiming it isn't helpful and shouldn't be used.

I actually did a small informal experiment and found that while it is not harmful, it also wasn't helpful, but it did make them look nice.

If you search around a bit, you will find pages and pages arguing about this. Here is my experiment, but there is much more discussion on the topic here on the forum from over the years:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/vitashell.27085/

 

[Pia B]

This has been the subject of an ongoing debate for many years. One side claims its helpful and harmless, the other side claiming it isn't helpful and shouldn't be used.

I actually did a small informal experiment and found that while it is not harmful, it also wasn't helpful, but it did make them look nice.

If you search around a bit, you will find pages and pages arguing about this. Here is my experiment, but there is much more discussion on the topic here on the forum from over the years:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/vitashell.27085/

Thank you Tom I will read through . I figured the coco oil won't hurt him and I do it maybe 2-4 times a year. If I have a visit somewhere I make sure he looks his best . I always get Oh he looks so clean for a turtle and he is not a turtle He had his shower this morning boy he loves those now that he is big for the first time I did not use the hand held sprayer . Awesome huh when the "kids" grow up and pass the hand held shower head

 

[NB98x]

I sometimes use coconut oil on my torts shell after soaking nothing wrong with it

 

[Pia B]

That was very informative Tom . your babies gave me baby sulcata fever !! conclusion is no harm is being done

 

[Big Charlie]

Thank you Tom I will read through . I figured the coco oil won't hurt him and I do it maybe 2-4 times a year. If I have a visit somewhere I make sure he looks his best . I always get Oh he looks so clean for a turtle and he is not a turtle He had his shower this morning boy he loves those now that he is big for the first time I did not use the hand held sprayer . Awesome huh when the "kids" grow up and pass the hand held shower head

Here is a discussion that has been going on for years about coconut oil: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/coconut-oil.103782/

 

[Pia B]

Here is a discussion that has been going on for years about coconut oil: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/coconut-oil.103782/

Thanks , wow a lot to read through !! which led to lighting basking area vs basking spot .

 

[wellington]

One of our members used the vita shell on his two leopards and they are perfectly smooth and no harm done. If I remember correctly, he didn't put it on the growth lines. Search out @Zamric threads.