Russian hatchling with swollen scute seams

[Cathy L]

My cb Russian hatchling (5 mos) seems to have swollen, soft scute seems along one side.
Here is a photo. She is eating and behaving fine, gets 4-5 hours a day of sunshine and regular soakings. During the day she is outside in a grass/dirt enclosure and at night or on cold days she is inside on coco coir and cypress mulch.
Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Tom]

That just looks like areas of new growth to me. I have only seen a couple of russians grow up from hatchlings though. I'd love to hear what someone with more hatchling Russian experience has to say.

 

[Laura]

hard to tell, but that looks like some real big growth lines.. do you weigh him? did he just have a growth spurt?

 

[Cathy L]

hard to tell, but that looks like some real big growth lines.. do you weigh him? did he just have a growth spurt?

Yes, I do weigh him and his growth has been pretty steady.

 

[Jacqui]

It's new growth. Are you saying it is only happening on the one side?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Cathy:

Sometimes they grow more on one side than on the other. It seems to balance out, though, and they don't look lop-sided. It may help that other side (the side not swollen) if you take a Q-tip and paint some vaseline or olive oil on the seam.

 

[Jacqui]

Hi Cathy:

Sometimes they grow more on one side than on the other. It seems to balance out, though, and they don't look lop-sided. It may help that other side (the side not swollen) if you take a Q-tip and paint some vaseline or olive oil on the seam.

Geesh, just go ahead and tell her what to do, before she can answer my question so I can tell her.

 

[Yvonne G]

mea culpa!

 

[Cathy L]

Hi Cathy:

Sometimes they grow more on one side than on the other. It seems to balance out, though, and they don't look lop-sided. It may help that other side (the side not swollen) if you take a Q-tip and paint some vaseline or olive oil on the seam.

Geesh, just go ahead and tell her what to do, before she can answer my question so I can tell her.

Well, I'll answer yiour question anyway. Yes, it does seem to be on one side.

---

Thanks so much. I won't worry now and I'll put some olive oil or vaseline on it. Any preference? I have both.

 

[Yvonne G]

I prefer to use olive oil. Others say vaseline is ok, but its made from petroleum products and I think that that is drying. You want to lubricate, not dry. But only paint the seams.

Hi Cathy:

Sometimes they grow more on one side than on the other. It seems to balance out, though, and they don't look lop-sided. It may help that other side (the side not swollen) if you take a Q-tip and paint some vaseline or olive oil on the seam.

Geesh, just go ahead and tell her what to do, before she can answer my question so I can tell her.

Well, I'll answer yiour question anyway. Yes, it does seem to be on one side.

---

Thanks so much. I won't worry now and I'll put some olive oil or vaseline on it. Any preference? I have both.

---

 

[Kailey]

The sides of my Russian hatchling, 5-6 months old, look the same.

 

[Grigor.Love.]

He's just a growing boy!