Tortoise shell problems?

[BrunoTheGreekTortoise]

Hey everyone, I have a Russian tortoise, and his shell isn’t looking so healthy. For his diet, I’m feeding him some weeds from outside, some collard or mustard greens, some hibiscus flowers and purslane. But his shell seems to be curving a lot! Is this because of overfeeding?

 

[Ben02]

He does look a bit overweight, I’ve seen this happen with a fat tortoise before.

 

[BrunoTheGreekTortoise]

He does look a bit overweight, I’ve seen this happen with a fat tortoise before.

So should I feed him less now? Or should I not give him food some days?

 

[Ben02]

So should I feed him less now? Or should I not give him food some days?

Well how old is he and what does he way first of all?

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

I think I see a couple of things going on, hard to know specifically from your good in-focus images.

1) it could be a lack of enough calcium for the bone part of the shell to grow at the same rate as the enamel part of the shell. It's almost like the spine length is not growing balanced with the rest of the tortoise.

2) sometimes the junction between the edge of each bone segment may be damaged and simply not grow anymore or fast enough to keep a balance with parts of the shell that don't have damage like that.

The damage may, and often is not noticeable any other way than, seeing the out of balance growth. Possible solutions that may or may not apply...

Make sure the tortoise is exposed to direct (not through glass) natural light. Increase the food variety, making sure to offer foods with a large C: P ratio greater than 4:1. Opuntia cactus, Escarole, Endive, some clover/alfalfa (up to 5%) of total food offered all have great C: P ratios. So does plantain ( the leafy weed, not the banana).

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Hey everyone, I have a Russian tortoise, and his shell isn’t looking so healthy. For his diet, I’m feeding him some weeds from outside, some collard or mustard greens, some hibiscus flowers and purslane. But his shell seems to be curving a lot! Is this because of overfeeding?View attachment 276130View attachment 276131View attachment 276132

What kind of UVB are you using? Kind of looks similar to Tortoises I've seen with mbd.

 

[BrunoTheGreekTortoise]

What kind of UVB are you using? Kind of looks similar to Tortoises I've seen with mbd.

I keep him outside in natural light. Should I begin using UVB bulbs?

 

[Toddrickfl1]

I keep him outside in natural light. Should I begin using UVB bulbs?

No, that's not the problem then. If he gets natural sunlight a couple hours a week you don't need UVB lights.

 

[BrunoTheGreekTortoise]

I think I see a couple of things going on, hard to know specifically from your good in-focus images.

1) it could be a lack of enough calcium for the bone part of the shell to grow at the same rate as the enamel part of the shell. It's almost like the spine length is not growing balanced with the rest of the tortoise.

2) sometimes the junction between the edge of each bone segment may be damaged and simply not grow anymore or fast enough to keep a balance with parts of the shell that don't have damage like that.

The damage may, and often is not noticeable any other way than, seeing the out of balance growth. Possible solutions that may or may not apply...

Make sure the tortoise is exposed to direct (not through glass) natural light. Increase the food variety, making sure to offer foods with a large C: P ratio greater than 4:1. Opuntia cactus, Escarole, Endive, some clover/alfalfa (up to 5%) of total food offered all have great C: P ratios. So does plantain ( the leafy weed, not the banana).

Okay, I’ll try adding those in his diet. Also, will this affect him in any way negatively? I know about MBD, but I’ve been keeping him outside with natural light. Also, so is the cause for this because of too much protein in his diet?

 

[BrunoTheGreekTortoise]

Well how old is he and what does he way first of all?

I got him a couple months ago (last December), so I’m not sure of the age, they never told us. I’ll get him measured at the vet’s.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Okay, I’ll try adding those in his diet. Also, will this affect him in any way negatively? I know about MBD, but I’ve been keeping him outside with natural light. Also, so is the cause for this because of too much protein in his diet?

too much protein/lack of hydration can be seen by lots of hard urates. If the urates are soft, like paste or egg whites, then there is enough hydration, and protein would be less a concern, based on the diet you have described.

 

[BrunoTheGreekTortoise]

too much protein/lack of hydration can be seen by lots of hard urates. If the urates are soft, like paste or egg whites, then there is enough hydration, and protein would be less a concern, based on the diet you have described.

Okay, thank you so much for your help! I’ll get him checked with the vet as well. Hopefully the damage isn’t too bad and he will be alright.