Shell Question

[TheWolfmanTom]

Hello All,
I dont know if im being paranoid or overly concerned but I think My redfoots shell is growing in layers. She has a diet of Zoomed forrest tortoise food, collard greens and fruit with the occasional snail or mealworms for protein. Please tell Me what you think. Lizzards I know, redfoots im learning.
Thanks
Tom

 

[pdrobber]

read this caresheet in its entirety - http://www.turtletary.com/redfootcare.htm its creator is here on the forum "Redfoot Nerd" aka Terry K. He breeds redfoots among other things.

another good resource is http://www.tortoiselibrary.com/ created by another TFO member, ''Madkins007'' aka Mark.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

Terry was My 1st contact when I got this little one. He walked Me thru My set up and answered all My questions at the time. That was a little over a year ago.

 

[Balboa]

I'm surprised nobody else has spoken up, so I guess I will.

Your tortoise sure looks like it has MBD to me. Has anyone mentioned this before and was she like that when you got her?

The way her back slopes down and indents over hind legs is the MBD give-away.

If this is something that has happened in the last year (her shell was normal a year ago) then she needs more of either calcium,vitamin D (best from sunshine), warmth, hydration or least likely, phosphorus, and pronto.

If by growing in layers you mean pyramiding, yes she is pyramided. Proper humidity/hydration will stop that from progressing, but won't reverse what's done. It will become however less noticeable over time.

 

[Yvonne G]

I was going to mention that, but you beat me to it. The sloping over the "hips" is a clear give-away towards MBD.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

Thank You.
Thats what I was wondering.
MBD I know how to deal with. The pyramiding I do not. I know just enough to feel that something was wrong. So any advise on how to proceed would be appreciated.

 

[Madkins007]

Pyramiding is a form of MBD, and may indicate that the carapace bones are not as solid or dense as we would want to see.

High humidity and hydration is a key for Red-foots to be healthy. You may have seen it described as 'misting until they drip', but the bigger issue is whether or not the overall humidity and hydration program is effective.

Besides humidity/hydration, we also want to make sure we have a solid diet to provide adequate calcium, iron, and so on without too much phosphorous; proper temps- around 85f for Red-foots with some warmer and cooler areas; plenty of room to work out in and enough interest to engage them; good sleep, etc.

The Tortoise Library has several articles about diet, shell problems, etc. that may be of interest.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

TY. Lizards I know, but im finding Tort's to be just as addictive. Ive already made some serious changes in regards to temp and humidity, as well as diet. So going forward Im getting it right. The RF is my wifes and she asked me to look at the shell so when I thought it looked off I found this place and have been doing ALOT of reading. So again My thanks.

 

[DoctorCosmonaut]

I'm failing to see the hip bowing/sloping you all are referring to... Can someone "point" it out?

---

Not questioning it is there... I mean I don't know what I am looking for

 

[Yvonne G]

In the first picture, instead of a nice round dome, you can see a downward slope after the third central scute from the front.

 

[DoctorCosmonaut]

Ooooohhh I see it now. thank you

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

There is a deffinate dip there. That was what made me seek out this forum. I knew something was wrong and I knew I was probably doing it. Ive been reading things in the Tortoise library and Im changing diet and humidity levels.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

OK Temps are raised, humidity is up , and ive switched to the 2 bowl method on diet. She seems like shes eating double now....lol Anyway thanks for the help. Now my question is as I correct the issue's and time gets factored in, will that dip in the shell reverse?? I know the pyrimidding (sp) wont.
Her she is not spongy either.

 

[Balboa]

good question...

Seems to me it won't. I've seen lots of pictures of rescues that I have every good reason to believe have been receiving proper cares for a long time that retain the MBD dip.

That being said, as she has alot of growing left to do I'd suspect just as the pyramiding should become less visible over time so should the dip.

Time will tell, good luck.