My 15 year old male sulcata has lost three scutes from the top of his shell—right behind his head. They just cleanly separated from him. He lost one scute last summer after snagging it on a piece of wood in his structure and two more have flaked off within the past week. His appetite and activity level both remain very good. He seems just fine. I took him to a vet last July and I've used chlorhexidine to treat what she suggested is shell rot. Where the scutes came off, the surface that was exposed is very firm. It's creamy white colored and dry & boney—no gooey, bloody, or smelly stuff at all. At this rate, I feel like he's going to lose more—another one looks on the verge of lifting. I've done lots of reading on this forum and I realize he will not grow more scutes. The aesthetics don't concern me, but can he still live a good life while missing part of that outermost plating on his shell? Does that creamy, boney surface offer adequate protection for him? I've had him since he was a two week old hatchling and never had any issues until this. Any info would be helpful. Thank you.