Shell changes ?? Any advice...

[betak]

Decided to ask someone with more knowledge and experience about sulcata. I was in the pet store buying some pellets for my water turtles when the guy asked how my sulcata was. I happened to mention that I was worried about his shell and wondered if how it looks now is going to be what it looks like when he's older (becuz I'm not happy with it.) He said since he was an expert that all tortoises are all born with deformities in their shell and that sulcatas shell should look similar to a box turtle in shape and around the sides. This is the same guy who keeps an 8 inch sulcata in his store for display (his pet) that says excessive pyramiding is normal, that Only feeds his tortoise pellets and keeps him in a 20gal aquarium. This guy is no expert in my mind and I surely do not take any advice from him. But it got me curious now about my question; will my sulcatas shell be shaped the same as it is now as he gets older (he's a year & 7 mo) or could it change? I guess I mean the sides go more down and was hoping that as he got older that they'd curl more.. out. Will it always be like this?

 

[ascott]

A shell has a "normal" shape but is an ever growing part of a tort....so some variations are also normal....may we see a pic of your fort and his shell?

 

[Laura]

all four of mine are different...

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

I agree with your assessment that your expert is not...

Can you refer him to this site and these threads?
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Helpful-Threads#axzz1s7KwW130

A pic would help us assess your tortoises situation better. Go to tinypic.com, upload any size photo, and copy/paste the IMG code into your forum post.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi betak:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

What would you like us to call you?

We're going to have to see some pictures of your tortoise to see what you're talking about, but "normal" usually means smooth, with a high domed shape. Some sulcatas carapace flares out above the legs and some don't.

 

[Livingstone]

Sounds like you talked to an idiot.

 

[Snapper925]

Sounds like you talked to an idiot.

 

[betak]

I finally found out how to post pics.. It may be fine, but I'm talking about around the edges, the shape. What do you think?

And thanks for the welcome