Sunburn on scales?

[Kitkat45]

Hi, I’ve noticed that Alex (3.5-4yr old Hermann) has some dry flaky looking scales on her head and face. Is this possible sunburn? I have raised my uvb higher (Arcadia 12%) in case it was too close. I have an Arcadia 150w flood for inside heat during the day, However, she spends almost every day outside in her outdoor enclosure with only the nights and early mornings in the inside enclosure. Photo shows her in her favorite spot in the outdoor enclosure. Humidity inside is usually between 50-60%, outside (Orlando, FL) is usually much higher humidity. I did see her catch one of her top head scales on her shell when startled and tucking in her head, that’s the most obvious missing scale on the top. She’s very active outside in late afternoon to evening, climbing things, etc, and that has also been tough on her scales. I soak her every day most times and occasionally every other day because she seems to enjoy soaking, but it hasn’t really changed the look of the scales. The white dot on her nose is just a piece of food.

 

[Kitkat45]

Also she does bask under the lamp in early morning before I take her outside. Basking spot is 95-99 under the bulb. Before I raised the uvb I had it sitting on the wire top. Before raising it, it was in the 1.7-4.5 uv range with solarmeter, after raising it is 1-3 uv range, with the lesser value farthest to the left and higher value as you move closer to the uvb

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

May I ask what the basking temperature is underneath the flood light? Only 150w is quite high, usually 75-100w does the trick. Also how’s your soak routine with her?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

May I ask what the basking temperature is underneath the flood light? Only 150w is quite high, usually 75-100w does the trick. Also how’s your soak routine with her?

I agree with this, though 150 w might sometimes be necessary in an open set up it is important to check the temperatures. This might be dry skin about to shed.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I agree with this, though 150 w might sometimes be necessary in an open set up it is important to check the temperatures. This might be dry skin about to shed.

I think personally if 100w isn’t heating the whole enclosure enough, instead of a higher watt floodlight I’d add a che, providing the temperature underneath the basking light is getting to it’s desired temperature of course

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

It could also just be shedding yes, she doesn’t look to bad to me in the photos

 

[Kitkat45]

I had a 100w flood basking but even with it resting on the top it would only reach 91-93 degree directly under the basking light, so I switched to 150w and the basking temp is 95-99 degrees under the bulb, I have rhp panels for gentle heat on the middle and cool side. It is open top, the cooler side is 78-80 degrees. With the middle 84 degrees.

 

[Kitkat45]

I also soak every night, before I put her inside for the night, mostly to clean her since she likes to burrow outside sometimes and gets dirty.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Cool temps sound ok, inclined to say she’s just shedding

 

[Kitkat45]

Thanks for your responses, hopefully it’s shedding but I’ll keep an eye on it.

 

[RandyTortoise]

Also she does bask under the lamp in early morning before I take her outside. Basking spot is 95-99 under the bulb. Before I raised the uvb I had it sitting on the wire top. Before raising it, it was in the 1.7-4.5 uv range with solarmeter, after raising it is 1-3 uv range, with the lesser value farthest to the left and higher value as you move closer to the uvb

I could be wrong, but I don’t think a tortoise can get a sunburn. They can get dehydrated and overheated, but not sunburned.

 

[Kitkat45]

I meant like a sunburn from the uvb tube light being too close possibly, which is why I raised it a few inches. I have also noticed she does not like the uvb light and tries to avoid it if possible so perhaps she will tolerate it more now that it has been raised a bit higher.