Soft shell

[Frankiesauce]

Hey all,

Something I don't know about my tortoise that I'm hoping you guys will know. I have a sulcata baby (he's about 3-4 months old) and his shell is kind of soft, especially around the edges. He is getting calcium and everything, I'm just wondering if this is normal. Thanks guys.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

What do you mean "and everything"? Is he getting a good diet? UVB? Lots of exercise? What is your substrate? How much humidity are you providing? It should be about 70% What are you feeding? There are so many things that involve healthy growth. So why don't we start by me welcoming you to the forum and you telling us how you are keeping your baby...

 

[Madkins007]

Hi Frankiesauce! While we wait for more information, here is just a quick note on calcium.

'Plenty of calcium' is just one part of the process. To make strong bones (like the shell), you need several things.

1. Enough calcium. It does not take a ton of the stuff, but they do need an adequate amount over the course of a week or so.

2. Some phosphorous. Calcium by itself makes bones that are very brittle. We'll mix in some phosphorous, which softens bones. We want to aim for an average of about 2 calcium to 1 part of phosphorous over time. This is called the 'Calciumhosphorous Ratio' and is abbreviated Ca: P, and usually written like 2:1 or 3:1.

Please note that a LOT of food has a poor Ca: P- many lettuces, for example have less than 1 part Calcium for every part of Phosphorous, or a Ca: P that looks like 0.97:1 or 0.88:1. Too much phosphorous, even with plenty of calcium, makes soft bones.

3. You need vitamin D. Tortoises get some of one type of vitamin D from plants, mostly mushrooms and fungi (vitamin D2, to be exact), but this form does not work as well. The best vitamin D is D3, which we usually get from unfiltered sunlight (The UVB rays do not penetrate most glass or plastic.) You can also get it from:
- some foods (oily fish, red meat, etc.- not Sulcata foods!),
- light bulbs that emit UVB rays (if the bulb just says UV, it is probably the less helpful and more harmful UVA rays), and
- vitamin supplements, sometimes added to calcium powder.

BE CAREFUL with vitamin D3 supplements! You CAN overdose on the stuff- don't use vitamin D3 supplements if you are using other forms of D3 or UVB.

4. You need magnesium, iron, and other vitamins and minerals in the right proportions.

5. You need the right amount of water- drinking water, water in food, and humidity. The 'right amount' differs for different species, but even Sulcatas need access to water and young Sulcatas need a humid place to hide.

6. Last on the list but not least is heat. Tortoises will not form strong bones in places that are too cold, but understand that too hot is also dangerous.

Soft shells usually indicate a problem with the diet or basic cares. It happens to most of us at one time or another and serves as a reminder to always pay attention to details and keep looking for good information.

 

[Crazy1]

Frankiesauce,
You posted earlier that your little Sully refused to eat hays and grasses and you were feeding it lettuces. Have you stopped feeding it lettuces. Are you feeding it more broad leaf greens like dandelion or Plantain (the weed not banana) or???
Madkin gave you some wonderful information as did Maggie. We really need more information or pictures to help you help your tortoise and I know that is what you want, a healthy happy Sully. Please post information or pics.