Scute Issue

[DaveM]

I've noticed that the scutes on my leopard tortoise around the edge of her carapace have moved\grown apart. It looks like maybe it's growing in between with some sort hard shiny black something. She seems to be otherwise fine and is eating well. Anyone ever seen this before and is there anything I can or should do about it?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[Yvonne G]

I see nothing untoward. What you're seeing is just the new growth coming in. The original shell that came with the tortoise out of the egg doesn't grow, but new growth is added around the edges of those original scutes. The triangular shaped black area along the edge is just nature's way of keeping the overall silhouette of the tortoise the shape it's supposed to be.

 

[KarenSoCal]

The original shell that came with the tortoise out of the egg doesn't grow, but new growth is added around the edges of those original scutes.

This is interesting, @Yvonne G.
But if the original shell doesn't grow, how does pyramiding happen?

 

[Yvonne G]

This is interesting, @Yvonne G.
But if the original shell doesn't grow, how does pyramiding happen?

The new growth starts growing on an upwards slant

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Looks and sounds like what your describing is just new growth.