Sulcata Shell needs help

Mikki

Active Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2020
Messages
127
Location (City and/or State)
Spring Hill, Fl
Please I need some Experts Advice & HELP! I live in Florida & went away on vacation to Pennsylvania to see my Grandchildren because I have not seen them for so long due to Covid. I use to go up there 3 times a year and my youngest Grand daughter was 8 weeks old the last time I saw her and now it's time for her 1st birthday party. I just had to go! I got Scooter last June, and she still had her tooth. I am the ONLY one that handles and takes care of Scooter. I am literally with Scooter 24/7. I do not work, I live in Florida, and I spend hours and hours around her. TRUE STORY, when I got home from PA, my dogs went crazy, all happy, I went over to Scooters enclosure, removed the plexiglas & Scooter heard my voice, at 10:00 PM, came BARRELING out of her hide with her head way up in the air, she looked so disoriented, but I was so shocked when she heard my voice she couldn't get out of her hide fast enough. She was on a very very strict routine, which was very SCREWED UP when I was away!! Scooter is just turning a year old. Her shell has always been so beautiful!
This is my issue: Scooter got stuck between two pieces of wood, she tried turning around and rubbed the very bottom of her shell on both sides as you can see if in the photo's. The area she rubbed is at the very very bottom just above where her shell ends. However, I think that part is going to be OK, the part I am very worried about is that dark line that looks so dry and ugly... WHY is it looking so bad? I soak her every day for 30 minutes. I live in Florida and she does go outside in her enclosure, she just now about 3 weeks ago started eating grass on her own, however she has been eating weeds and flowers. Scooter does eat Hay but I have to mix it in with her greens OR mix it in with Mazuri. I never saw Scooter eat hay on her own, but she does come out of her hide every morning with hay in her mouth!. Scooter absolutely has the option of sleeping in a hide with dirt, but she ALWAYS goes into the hide with hay, she always pushes the hay around her but she does not dig as of yet... Is there anything I can put on her shell? Will her shell be OK? I am very worried. Earlier today I took my finger and lightly rubbed on that line and she started wiggling like it felt good, so I don't know if it is it itchy or not... Please someone let me know what to do.. Thank you so much!!
Next vacation, I might find someone who has a Sulcata near me to babysit, or someone that is home all the time, at least until she is older...
 

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Yvonne G

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I don't see anything to worry about. The new growth looks a little dry and you can use a Q- tip to rub in some cold pressed coconut oil . Leave it to absorb for a few minutes, then polish it off with a clean, absorbent cloth.
 

Tom

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Scooter looks great. I don't see anything to worry about there.
 

Mikki

Active Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2020
Messages
127
Location (City and/or State)
Spring Hill, Fl
Thank you so much for responding. It sure eases my mind knowing that looks normal. Thank you again!!!!
 
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