Someone PLEASE HELP!

[LParkey]

Okay this is SERIOUSLY freaking me out! In the past week this has happened to the bottom of her shell, and it's SOFT! I'm talking about the new pink growth. I just know this can't be right. Should I stop the Mazuri for a while? She is under proper heat/uvb. Someone PLEASE tell me what to do, I'm FREAKING!

ShouldI cut back her food intake? She's eating at LEAST a cup and a half, if not 2 cops a day.

And shr gets at least 30 min outside in the true sun a week. More if weather allows

 

[Tom]

Everything is okay. I have seen that area get pink if I don't soak them or rinse them off after they sit in their Mazuri all day. Try a soak and rinse every time you feed Mazuri, and try to keep the substrate clean of left over food. Also, let your substrate dry out a little bit for a week or so.

Now when you say "soft", do you mean mushy, like butter in a plastic baggie? Or soft like the plastic side of a butter tub, that has some give to it?

And MORE sunshine will be more beneficial.

 

[Laura]

that looks like soft new growth to me.. like cuticles on your fingernails..

 

[LParkey]

I live in Oklahoma so they go out as often as weather will allow this time of year. She was fresh out of the tub in this pic. It's more like side of butter tub soft. Idk if you're familiar with her and my updates, but she was extremely small and not eating barely at all. She has exploded since starting mazuri. Is it possible for her to outgrow her shell? This scares me, I'm a worry wart over her.

 

[Jacqui]

You know, when I first started reading your post, I thought or no something bad. However after reading everything and seeing the picture, I too think it's just new growth your seeing... and that is a good thing. By the way, it's okay to worry. We have all been there, done that, and sometimes still do that.

 

[LParkey]

I'm SO glad y'all think it's new growth, I can tell it's new growth! But can she grow too fast? When will it garden up. I just worry so much cause with add much as she's eating it seems like she should be splitting out of her shell! Will he's shell keep up with her, no matter how much/fast she's growing?

 

[Laura]

she can get fat, but not outgrow her shell.. if you think she is eating too much.. cut her back. she wont starve.
If the other one is not growing, try sperating them. maybe the small one is getting bullied and not getting enough to eat.
the new growth is soft.. it harden into shell..
what do you feed her and how often and how much?

 

[LParkey]

lol she's the little one out of the 2 and she eats twice as much as the other one! We feed green leaf lettuce mixed with spring mix and twice a week add mazuri. I think we feed at least 3 cups of food a day and she eats well over half. They're both gaining weight, but I haven't specifically noticed the larger one growing. Probably because he's not growing near as fast as my little girl! I'm so glad this is normal, and not horribly wrong like I thought it was. I guess it's because she stayed so small for so long I'm not used to seeing growth like this lol. How long will it take for the new growth to harden, and should I limit her soaking at all? Also, would VitaShell be at all beneficial on the new growth? It's not somethingI use regularly, but when their shells start to look dry I throw a little on there to polish them up =)

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Also she's been ”shedding” the skin on her head, I'm assuming because she's growing so fast. Is this normal?

 

[Jacqui]

Are they getting UVB lighting and/or outside natural sunlight? Are you adding calcium to their diets, too? If they are getting a balanced diet with the proper amount of needed lighting, then normally their shells do keep up with them and do harden correctly. The growth out pacing the shell look seems to happen more with box turtles it seems.

 

[Tom]

Definitely don't slow down on your soaks. They need the hydration and just wetting the shell will help it to grow smoother too.

I think Jacqui is on the right track. Whenever I see a growth spurt like what you are seeing, I make sure they are getting lots of calcium supplementation and UV. As spring and summer approach, be thinking about getting her outside as much as you can.

 

[LParkey]

I really appreciate all the input and information everyone! I'll continue the soaks and spraying as usual. They got to play outside for almost 2 hours today! Every chance iget to out them outside I get so excited for them! I love my babies playing outside! Hopefully in a month (maybe a little longer) they'll be living it up outside 24/7, I can't wait!

 

[Jacqui]

I really appreciate all the input and information everyone! I'll continue the soaks and spraying as usual. They got to play outside for almost 2 hours today! Every chance iget to out them outside I get so excited for them! I love my babies playing outside! Hopefully in a month (maybe a little longer) they'll be living it up outside 24/7, I can't wait!

My tortoises would be so jealous, if they could read this. How wonderful they got the time outside and so soon will be out even more! Outside is the best medicine for them, even when they aren't sick.

 

[LParkey]

I will bump up calcium for a little bit. I'm glad I'm lucky enough to live somewhere to where they can stay outside March/April through September/October. Wish it could be year round lol! A question tho - it can get well over 100° (up to 115°) and sometimes stay that way for over a month (at least it was like that last summer ... Are they ok in temperatures like that? They will have shade and water at all times.