Red dot on baby sulcata plastron

[AngusBurgehr]

Just got this little guy a few days ago. He's full of energy and has a VERY healthy appetite, so I don't think he's sick at all. The red dot doesn't feel any different from his shell at all, and it's really bright in color. It looks nothing like anything I've seen online. Could it just be a part of his plastron, an injury, or something else?

 

[Bambam1989]

I think the red dot is only a stain of some kind. But he looks "puffy" in the legs.. I don't know if this is just my imagination or if you may have early signs of a complication.
Can you tell us about your lights, temps, humidity, and diet?
I also don't see any water saucer...?

These are some supper handy links that can help you care for your adorable baby.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.64290/

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/unread

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-45180.html

 

[Chizbad]

Agreed, the bigger concern here is the puffiness. From the picture, it looks as if your turtle enclosure is very small and without a doubt not up to par with what your little one needs

 

[AngusBurgehr]

I think the red dot is only a stain of some kind. But he looks "puffy" in the legs.. I don't know if this is just my imagination or if you may have early signs of a complication.
Can you tell us about your lights, temps, humidity, and diet?
I also don't see any water saucer...?

These are some supper handy links that can help you care for your adorable baby.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.64290/

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/unread

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-45180.html

The water saucer is in the picture of his plastron if you look at the background. I was soaking him when I took the picture. I'm in Florida so the humidity is really high even in the house probably at least 70%. I've also been keeping his substrate somewhat moist as well as the inside of his log. Basking spot is about 100° F. His diet right now is just spring mix and a calcium/vitamin powder. (I tried kale but he didn't like it) and I'll be buying some carrots today to add onto that. I just got him 3 days ago so I don't know what his diet has been prior. And his legs aren't usually puffy. They occasionally puff out when he exhales which I think I caught in the photo haha

 

[AngusBurgehr]

Agreed, the bigger concern here is the puffiness. From the picture, it looks as if your turtle enclosure is very small and without a doubt not up to par with what your little one needs

I definitely know the enclosure is too small. It's just the one that came with him. Will hopefully have a bigger one within the next 2 weeks

 

[Chizbad]

I can honestly tell you that’s probably too long. I built this a few days ago for $70 (not including lights/ceramic heat bulb)for my new baby sulcata. ..View attachment 223108

 

[AngusBurgehr]

I think the red dot is only a stain of some kind. But he looks "puffy" in the legs.. I don't know if this is just my imagination or if you may have early signs of a complication.
Can you tell us about your lights, temps, humidity, and diet?
I also don't see any water saucer...?

These are some supper handy links that can help you care for your adorable baby.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.64290/

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/unread

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-45180.html

Also thank you for the fast reply and the links!

 

[Bambam1989]

The water saucer is in the picture of his plastron if you look at the background. I was soaking him when I took the picture. I'm in Florida so the humidity is really high even in the house probably at least 70%. I've also been keeping his substrate somewhat moist as well as the inside of his log. Basking spot is about 100° F. His diet right now is just spring mix and a calcium/vitamin powder. (I tried kale but he didn't like it) and I'll be buying some carrots today to add onto that. I just got him 3 days ago so I don't know what his diet has been prior. And his legs aren't usually puffy. They occasionally puff out when he exhales which I think I caught in the photo haha

What is the temp in the cool side of his enclosure? Are you providing a uvb light? Carrots are considered to be too high of a sugar food for sulcatas along with fruits. These should only be fed on occasion if ever. That first link has a great list of healthy foods.
It's great that you're getting a bigger enclosure. The sooner the better though. For babies we recommend a closed chamber style.
Water should always be available for your tort in a shallow saucer(like the clay saucers that go under plant pots).
There is alot of old outdated info for these guys. These links are excellent. Please ask any further questions after you finish reading them.
Welcome to the Forum!

 

[Bambam1989]

The "puffy" look could be just an illusion or just the timing of the photo. I am not one of the experts and was only making an observation..
Those links really helped me and so do the members of the forum.

 

[teresaf]

I was concerned about the puffiness to. And the ramped water dish that you are using is a tipping hazard. Pet stores sell them as A1 type fits all water dish but I really only good for the reptiles that are bendable. Some people here have found their tortoises upside down inside the water. That's why we recommend the terracotta plant saucers for food and water. They have the sloped sides and they help wear down the beak naturally. I'm here in Southwest Florida and my house is not 70% humidity inside it... Air conditioners take humidity out of the air.

 

[Chizbad]

Addressing your original concern... the red dot to me looks like maybe a marking made by the previous care taker, maybe a color code to keep up with different hatchlings/batches of hatchlings?

 

[AngusBurgehr]

That's probably what it is. I just got really paranoid. I've been obsessing over the little guy since I got him. Also I looked into cheap enclosures after your replies. I found a guy that keeps his in a large plastic tub and it seems like a great solution until he gets a little bigger. I'll try to find the post again and link it here. More than likely will just pick one up tomorrow

 

[AngusBurgehr]

I was concerned about the puffiness to. And the ramped water dish that you are using is a tipping hazard. Pet stores sell them as A1 type fits all water dish but I really only good for the reptiles that are bendable. Some people here have found their tortoises upside down inside the water. That's why we recommend the terracotta plant saucers for food and water. They have the sloped sides and they help wear down the beak naturally. I'm here in Southwest Florida and my house is not 70% humidity inside it... Air conditioners take humidity out of the air.

We don't use the AC (unfortunately it's not my house) so it's just open doors during the day and fans at night. And I've just been soaking him outside of his tank every day so I figured the dish didn't matter since I'm with him the whole time he's in it. I've seen mixed things about keeping a dish in the tank in general

 

[JoesMum]

You should always have a water dish in the enclosure even if you soak daily.

As Teresa said, the pet store reptile ones aren’t suitable for Tortoises.

Use a terracotta plant saucer. Put it in the middle of the enclosure as tortoises tend to patrol boundaries, so substrate is less likely to be dragged in as your tort stomps round. Sink the saucer into the substrate so the rim is level with the surface of the substrate.