Tortoise Bottom Shell Off Shell Rot?

[CutieHappyLife]

Hiiii,

I heard something when my tortoise walking outside, and saw one piece of his shell off and the part next to it is really crispy (shown in the pics)

Is this shell rot? Is this something I have to get him to the vet asap? Please help!!! Thank you!!

His enclosure temperature is 72-95, humidity is 45-49%. I give him bath 4 times a week, he walks in the yard almost every day as long as the temperature reaches 70. Calcium powder twice every week, and he has a bath place in his enclosure too.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

This isn’t shell rot, Russians don’t tend to get fungal infections like that, this is the top layer of keratin that’s come off, he’s chipped it on something, is there anywhere in his enclosure he call fall off? Don’t suppose you have a photo of both his outdoor and indoor set up?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

This doesn’t look like a vet situation though don’t worry, just keep the area clean, you can run saline over it after a soakwhat substrate do you use indoors?

 

[CutieHappyLife]

This doesn’t look like a vet situation though don’t worry, just keep the area clean, you can run saline over it after a soakwhat substrate do you use indoors?

Thank you thank you, such a relief to know
I use cypress mulch and the top is bark, but there are stones and wood that I put in to make his enclosure like nature, not sure if that’s the reason
He walks in the yard just with grass and trees, but the driveway is next to it, not sure if that’s the reason too
Do I have to anything else to the spot that already fall off besides saline? Thank you!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Thank you thank you, such a relief to know
I use cypress mulch and the top is bark, but there are stones and wood that I put in to make his enclosure like nature, not sure if that’s the reason
He walks in the yard just with grass and trees, but the driveway is next to it, not sure if that’s the reason too
Do I have to anything else to the spot that already fall off besides saline? Thank you!

No problem! None of those look sharp enough to me personally to be an issue, I’d consider making his own designated outdoor space when able though, as I wouldn’t want him having access to that gravel, some have been known to eat small stones like that causing blockages.

Let me tag @zovick to see if there’s any other tips they’d suggest for that area, is this part Ive circled filled with dirt? I’d definitely clean that out if that’s the case, if the area around it feels crispy it’s likely more keratin is going to flake off at some point, but don’t be alarmed by that, once it’s detached underneath, it’s going to come off, it’ll heal over eventually, leaving a dink/shell blemish, very common for wild caught Russians

Other than that, the area doesn’t appear to show any redness or signs of blood, it actually visually presents as an older looking injury to me, I wonder whether he’s knocked that spot at some other point(perhaps before you even got him) and it was going to flake of eventually no matter what, hopefully we can get @Yvonne G to take a look too

 

[CutieHappyLife]

No problem! None of those look sharp enough to me personally to be an issue, I’d consider making his own designated outdoor space when able though, as I wouldn’t want him having access to that gravel, some have been known to eat small stones like that causing blockages.

Let me tag @zovick to see if there’s any other tips they’d suggest for that area, is this part Ive circled filled with dirt? I’d definitely clean that out if that’s the case, if the area around it feels crispy it’s likely more keratin is going to flake off at some point, but don’t be alarmed by that, once it’s detached underneath, it’s going to come off, it’ll heal over eventually, leaving a dink/shell blemish, very common for wild caught Russians
View attachment 391806
Other than that, the area doesn’t appear to show any redness or signs of blood, it actually visually presents as an older looking injury to me, I wonder whether he’s knocked that spot at some other point(perhaps before you even got him) and it was going to flake of eventually no matter what, hopefully we can get @Yvonne G to take a look too

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
I just checked him and don't think it is dirt, it is pretty solid. But the spot left to the circle you made is getting loose and probably gonna come off soon as you mentioned, the right side is still solid no sign of damage luckily
He is already an adult few months ago when I got him, and no one can tell his exact age I just wish him a happy and healthy life

 

[The Dashing Pistachio]

Like above, I recommend the same. I hope he feels better!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
I just checked him and don't think it is dirt, it is pretty solid. But the spot left to the circle you made is getting loose and probably gonna come off soon as you mentioned, the right side is still solid no sign of damage luckily
He is already an adult few months ago when I got him, and no one can tell his exact age I just wish him a happy and healthy life

Any time!
Cool, thats probably just the colouring on his plastron I can see there thenlooking at it I think a knock has happened before you got him, it’s one of those things that will look a little worse before it gets better, but he’ll take it in his stride, scrapes like this are quite common with wild caught Russians, just keep making sure to clean any debris that might get caught in the area

 

[CutieHappyLife]

Any time!
Cool, thats probably just the colouring on his plastron I can see there thenlooking at it I think a knock has happened before you got him, it’s one of those things that will look a little worse before it gets better, but he’ll take it in his stride, scrapes like this are quite common with wild caught Russians, just keep making sure to clean any debris that might get caught in the area

Yesss definitely!! Really appreciate your help!!