Redfoot shell
- Thread starter Doug Gosney
- Start date
Because of where it is, and the 'burned condition of the new growth seams, I'm fairly certain that this was all caused by the top of the shell being too close to either a light or a heat source.
Nothing can be done for it, but you CAN get him/her out from under the light and make the enclosure and hiding place more humid, and moist substrate
Nothing can be done for it, but you CAN get him/her out from under the light and make the enclosure and hiding place more humid, and moist substrate
Doug Gosney
Member
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it. He lives outside so - hasn’t had a heat source since earlier this year (live in Houston). I’ll re- evaluate his tort house heat this fall when it cools off
When I see damaged shells/keratin, something fungal is usually top of mind. How did it look when the scute came off, one solid piece or did it flake off over time? It looks like theres damage in the center of the scute above the missing one, do you notice any pitting or flakiness anywhere else?
Doug Gosney
Member
It was a little brittle, and then one day it was just gone. Couple of others are a bit flaky but seem intact. I’m worried about him, but he is perfectly normal otherwise. Thank you for replying and any thoughts!
His whole shell looks really dry. How often do you soak him and for how long each time, and is the water warm all the time he's in it? There are other scutes that look as though they are also affected and degenerating, plus the growth seams.
Please show us some pictures of his enclosure, the hides, shade and sunny areas. Do you keep the humidity above 80% at all times? RedFoots evolved in the equatorial regions of South America and need high humidity and 80+F degrees at all times.
You've gotten good assessments in the posts above. It seems like he's being kept far too dryly, and also got cold so huddled under a heat source, as Yvonne suggested, which damaged the missing scute and other areas of his shell. Jaizei's idea of fungal problems probably then took the opportunity to invade the damaged/vulnerable areas.
I'd soak him and use a soft brush to gently clean off all the loose stuff I could. Then I'd try putting athlete's foot cream on the whole area, first, with soaks, for a few days. It may need something stronger though. After a few days of soaks and athlete's foot cream, I'd take either liquid Vitamin E or a high quality olive oil, and lightly coat his shell. Repeat as needed - probably a couple times per week, then whenever it looks like its starting to get a little dry again. If that doesn't get it to start clearing up, do you know a good exotics/tortoise veterinarian?
@zovick
Please show us some pictures of his enclosure, the hides, shade and sunny areas. Do you keep the humidity above 80% at all times? RedFoots evolved in the equatorial regions of South America and need high humidity and 80+F degrees at all times.
You've gotten good assessments in the posts above. It seems like he's being kept far too dryly, and also got cold so huddled under a heat source, as Yvonne suggested, which damaged the missing scute and other areas of his shell. Jaizei's idea of fungal problems probably then took the opportunity to invade the damaged/vulnerable areas.
I'd soak him and use a soft brush to gently clean off all the loose stuff I could. Then I'd try putting athlete's foot cream on the whole area, first, with soaks, for a few days. It may need something stronger though. After a few days of soaks and athlete's foot cream, I'd take either liquid Vitamin E or a high quality olive oil, and lightly coat his shell. Repeat as needed - probably a couple times per week, then whenever it looks like its starting to get a little dry again. If that doesn't get it to start clearing up, do you know a good exotics/tortoise veterinarian?
@zovick
Last edited:
Doug Gosney
Member
Great info. Thank you! He lives in a 400 square foot outdoor pen with two other adult female Redfoots (they seem fine) with a small dog house with some heat sources inside. I bring them in in January when the nights are especially cold. We live in Houston - so always plenty humid. I will do the shell treatments you suggested plus I ordered a shell protector product as well. Thank you everyone for the tips. Great to have a community like this. I’ll keep folks posted.
Doug Gosney
Member
The product is called Nutriarise for reptiles. Specifically mentioned shell issues. I will compliment this with the guidance here from the group. Thanks!
"Plenty humid" for humans isn't necessarily humid enough for tropical tortoises. Is it 84% humidity or higher?
Do they have a water feature in their enclosure? ...A small shallow pond or some other place they can sit in water for prolonged periods of the day?
What is their shady area like?
Pictures would be appreciated.
Doug Gosney
Member
Hello. Attaching some pics. I need to replant as the rye grass has just finished. It grew great all winter and they eat a ton of it. I treated his shell with the Nutiarise spray and will get some liquid vitamin E as suggested. The spray went on well and the shell seemed to absorb it. Enclosure has watering hole - lined with rock at the bottom.. It is attached to our sprinkler system and flushes and fills everyday with fresh water. Enclosure is 20 feet x 20 feet and a good mix of sun and shade. Shelter (a small dog house) has heat source inside on thermostat. The enclosure looks a little bare this morning - but normally has grass. Need different kind of grass for hot summer. I really appreciate all the good advice here.
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Doug Gosney
Member
He’s doing great , thanks. I’ve used liquid vitamin E on his shell and it really seems to be helping. I also asked the person I originally got him from (he has many Redfoots) and he agreed that it looked like a heat source too close to them in their “dog” house. He’s the biggest / tallest of my 3, so makes sense the other two seem unaffected . I feel terrible about it. Will get that corrected for sure before it cools off again. I appreciate you checking in and your good advice.
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What is your heat source?
How far away from the tortoises is it?
Do you have a non contact temperature gun to check the temperature?
Doug Gosney
Member
Hello there. I have a radiant heat panel (from Sweeter Heater) on the roof of the enclosure , specifically designed not to burn. However , on nights it got colder (in the high 30s), it struggled to maintain upper 70s/lower 80s for night time temp. So, I supplemented with a moon light heat bulb in a dome in the ceiling. Too close to torts it seems. All heating is controlled by a thermostat to not go below 75 degrees night time temp I will figure out plan B before this late fall for a better set up / increased heat. This past winter was the 3rd one with this set up, and first with problems. Thanks again.
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