Shell issues
- Thread starter tortoisepopop
- Start date
@ZEROPILOT should be able to help you. Is it on the plastron too (underneath)?
tortoisepopop
New Member
No just the top
Hello!
Second tortoise doesn't have anything like this? Can you make a better photo in a natural daylight (especially marked areas)? Are spots/patches white and "fluffy"? It's definitely not a new growth. And some areas doesn't look like fungal infection - more like an old damage (e.g. burn) and keratin chipping off.
Second tortoise doesn't have anything like this? Can you make a better photo in a natural daylight (especially marked areas)? Are spots/patches white and "fluffy"? It's definitely not a new growth. And some areas doesn't look like fungal infection - more like an old damage (e.g. burn) and keratin chipping off.
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tortoisepopop
New Member
Yes I'll bring them into the sun when I get home in a few minutes. Just the one has it. It's not fluffy it looks like the shell was chipped almost it doesn't scratch off.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
When you say just the one has it, how many tortoises are there? And do you house them together? The photos do personally look fungal to me but it’s hard to say, it would be a strange spot for a fungal problem, a photo of their plastron would be good
tortoisepopop
New Member
I'll upload in a couple minutes I'm on my way home now. I have 2 of them in the tank.When you say just the one has it, how many tortoises are there? And do you house them together? The photos do personally look fungal to me but it’s hard to say, a photo of their plastron would be good
tortoisepopop
New Member
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tortoisepopop
New Member
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Thank you for the photos. It looks like a bad case of fungal infection. Get an athlete's foot creme and apply to white areas and whole plastron. After day or two, try to clean areas with a soft bristle toothbrush. Plastron looks concerning (I hope it's just the photo), so that's good that you have a vet appointment. If the bone on the plastron is exposed it may require some more serious treatment.
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Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Ok so bad news, tortoise of any species should NEVER be housed in pairs under any circumstances, they’re incredibly territorial, behaviours that look cute to us really aren’t, following one another and sleeping huddled up is all bullying the the tortoise world, you’ll eventually see more extreme signs of aggression. Anyone who tells you pairs are fine, have no idea what they’re talking about.
Small groups are ok when there’s lots of land and the correct male to female ratio.
They will both need separating asap.
Good news is you’ve found the forum and can start working to fix things
Thank you for including the photos! this is 100% a fungal infection, to treat this get yourself some athletes foot cream.
This infection has likely start from the top layer of your substrate being constantly damp, may I ask how your maintaining your humidity?
I think you’ll hopefully find this thread below helpful to look through, I cover correct equipment, levels, appropriately maintaining humidity to avoid shell rot, there’s lots of visual examples for everything and a great diet list to check out
Young red foot/ cherryhead set up
Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information on an effective example of a starter enclosure for a red foot/cherry head😊 Care advice for these guys is painfully behind, fb pages, YouTube, pet stores, they’re all repeating the same outdated advice, this forum is made of...
tortoiseforum.org
This one is also really good to get familiar with, it will help you avoid the wrong bulbs, materials and housing situations
Common keeping errors
Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...
tortoiseforum.org
tortoisepopop
New Member
I was using a mister so definitely the top layer is always moist. I'll get a second tank for the other one I was misinformed by the seller that they could be kept in pairsOk so bad news, tortoise of any species should NEVER be housed in pairs under any circumstances, they’re incredibly territorial, behaviours that look cute to us really aren’t, following one another and sleeping huddled up is all bullying the the tortoise world, you’ll eventually see more extreme signs of aggression. Anyone who tells you pairs are fine, have no idea what they’re talking about.
Small groups are ok when there’s lots of land and the correct male to female ratio.
They will both need separating asap.
Thank you for including the photos! this is 100% a fungal infection, to treat this get yourself some athletes foot cream.
This infection has likely start from the top layer of your substrate being constantly damp, may I ask how your maintaining your humidity?
I think you’ll hopefully find this thread below helpful to look through, I cover correct equipment, levels, appropriately maintaining humidity to avoid shell rot, there’s lots of visual examples for everything and a great diet list to check out
Young red foot/ cherryhead set up
Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information on an effective example of a starter enclosure for a red foot/cherry head😊 Care advice for these guys is painfully behind, fb pages, YouTube, pet stores, they’re all repeating the same outdated advice, this forum is made of...
This one is also really good to get familiar with, it will help you avoid the wrong bulbs, materials and housing situations
Common keeping errors
Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
As Alex has said, this one does unfortunately look quite extreme, it’s unusual to see it make its way toward the top of the shell like this, but I’ve seen it happen with bad infections. It may require a vet visit
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Yeah unfortunately soooo many breeders do this, especially red foots, whilst they are a species more tolerable of company, this still has to be in groups, never a pair, the dynamic just doesn’t work for tortoises.
Yes ditch the misting, have a read through that thread I linked, I go over maintaining your humidity to hopefully help avoid this
tortoisepopop
New Member
Thanks for the help!Yeah unfortunately soooo many breeders do this, especially red foots, whilst they are a species more tolerable of company, this still has to be in groups, never a pair, the dynamic just doesn’t work for tortoises.
Yes ditch the misting, have a read through that thread I linked, I go over maintaining your humidity to hopefully help avoid this
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
No problem at all! Do let us know if you ever have any more queries on anything! And would love if you can keep is in the loop with how this baby gets on with treatment
tortoisepopop
New Member
Going to buy some cream right now I'll keep you guys posted thanks youNo problem at all! Do let us know if you ever have any more queries on anything! And would love if you can keep is in the loop with how this baby gets on with treatment
The mister is making it too wet. There are chips all over the shell. Please review the set up heat, light, substrate, humidity, diet and hydration for both in their new independent enclosures. I would remove mister and just use a plant sprayer to moisten not drench.
