Shell Flaking

[Miles&Marvin]

Hi all, I hope anyone in the west side of Southern California is safe and sound. Please see the picture below of my 10 year old Russian, which has always had some marks on her shell, but it seems to be flaking a bit more right now. She’s eating Pooping walking just fine. Spending a lot of time in her heated enclosure but it’s been cold here. Is this OK or should I treat with anything? Thank you.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

This does look like some kind of shell damage, the top layer of keratin has been scraped/knocked off, I don’t suppose you have a photo of your enclosure? Perhaps members will spot something he’s possibly knocked himself on, if you’re able to tackle any of these too that’d be good, usually the more housing/care info the better in getting the specific answers you may need

What are your temperatures like all over? Ie basking temp(directly under the bulb), overall day temps(middle and cooler side), night temps?
What kind of basking bulb is being used specifically? Packaging photos are good if you have any
Do you use indoor uv? If so what kind?
How’s humidity?
What’s his substrate?
What kind of monitoring do you have?
What’s his diet been like with you?

 

[Miles&Marvin]

Thank you for your quick response. I might not have mentioned that those marks have always been there prior to me adopting her. I thinkThey’re just flaking. The temperatures in her house are 8082 under direct and 72 on the opposite side of her house. I built it myself. Her substrate has been the same for the last three years and I give her a bath twice a week she is fed a mixture of dandelions, dark and light greens cucumbers, and is a good eater. Do you think I should put anything on the shell?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thank you for your quick response. I might not have mentioned that those marks have always been there prior to me adopting her. I thinkThey’re just flaking. The temperatures in her house are 8082 under direct and 72 on the opposite side of her house. I built it myself. Her substrate has been the same for the last three years and I give her a bath twice a week she is fed a mixture of dandelions, dark and light greens cucumbers, and is a good eater. Do you think I should put anything on the shell?

Hello!
Perhaps, that's the old shell damage which is healing now and old scutes are flaking off. You don't need to treat it, however look for discharge from under the scutes, colored patches appearing etc. I suggest to make some close up photos of the shell, when it's under bright daylight and dried after soaking, and use these photos for future reference.

 

[jaizei]

What does the rest of the carapace look?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Thank you for your quick response. I might not have mentioned that those marks have always been there prior to me adopting her. I thinkThey’re just flaking. The temperatures in her house are 8082 under direct and 72 on the opposite side of her house. I built it myself. Her substrate has been the same for the last three years and I give her a bath twice a week she is fed a mixture of dandelions, dark and light greens cucumbers, and is a good eater. Do you think I should put anything on the shell?

In that case I’m thinking Alex is probably right that it’s old damage that is flaking off, which would be quite typical if he’s wild caught, just keep a close eye for now.
Directly under the bulb(which should be an incandescent reptile floodlight) try and get the temperature reading 95f just directly underneath for the basking temperature, they try and have the cooler end in the 75 range if you can during the day