- Joined
- Jan 25, 2010
- Messages
- 12
I've read that baby tortoises have soft shells. When my California Desert Tortoises were newly hatched (they're 3 mo. old now), they did have a *slightly* soft shell. Since then, they've grown a lot, and I haven't noticed a difference in their shells. Today I noticed that all four have soft plastrons. Is this a normal part of their development?
They're in an enclosure with a heat rock, heat lamp, UVB lamp and sun from the window. I water them twice a week (I have just added, in the last week, two drops of avian vitamins to their 'bath' water.), and feed them mixed greens liberally sprinkled with calcium. They also have a cuttlebone, and they do chew on it. I've found several food lists that work for winter and my area, and I am feeding them a mixed diet. Until it got cooler here (It's rarely cold in San Diego!) they were grazing on the grass, clover and dandelions in my yard for a good part of the day.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Tric
Gopherus agassizii 1.1.4
Bumper, Arnold, Cincinatus, Gregor, Constant and Random
They're in an enclosure with a heat rock, heat lamp, UVB lamp and sun from the window. I water them twice a week (I have just added, in the last week, two drops of avian vitamins to their 'bath' water.), and feed them mixed greens liberally sprinkled with calcium. They also have a cuttlebone, and they do chew on it. I've found several food lists that work for winter and my area, and I am feeding them a mixed diet. Until it got cooler here (It's rarely cold in San Diego!) they were grazing on the grass, clover and dandelions in my yard for a good part of the day.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Tric
Gopherus agassizii 1.1.4
Bumper, Arnold, Cincinatus, Gregor, Constant and Random