Translucent area on shell (not edge)

[tiftaf268]

I noticed spot A on our guy last week and thought it may be a drip stain from him going under the composter, it doesn’t wash off though. Today I noticed spot B after his bath; it is this really smooth kind of translucent area (not soft). I made a vet appointment but couldn’t get him in for 2 weeks and I’m pretty new to tortoises. Any thoughts on what this might be from or is any of it normal?

 

[Tom]

I noticed spot A on our guy last week and thought it may be a drip stain from him going under the composter, it doesn’t wash off though. Today I noticed spot B after his bath; it is this really smooth kind of translucent area (not soft). I made a vet appointment but couldn’t get him in for 2 weeks and I’m pretty new to tortoises. Any thoughts on what this might be from or is any of it normal?
View attachment 377343

B looks like abrasion from rubbing on something. A looks like heat damage or weathering from weather extremes.

We can help you figure it out with a little more info:
Where in CA are you?
How are you housing this tortoise?
Is there a heat source? What kind?
Where does the tortoise sleep at night?

 

[tiftaf268]

B looks like abrasion from rubbing on something. A looks like heat damage or weathering from weather extremes.

We can help you figure it out with a little more info:
Where in CA are you?
How are you housing this tortoise?
Is there a heat source? What kind?
Where does the tortoise sleep at night?

I’m in southern Cal (Simi Valley). He has a burrow outside and comes in the house as he pleases but he’s mainly an outdoor guy and sleeps outside. He is constantly climbing and trying to squeeze in and under things so I also wondered if he rubbed his shell too much.

 

[Tom]

I’m in southern Cal (Simi Valley). He has a burrow outside and comes in the house as he pleases but he’s mainly an outdoor guy and sleeps outside. He is constantly climbing and trying to squeeze in and under things so I also wondered if he rubbed his shell too much.

Yep. Looks like their might be a rock or a tree root on the top of his burrow, or he's trying to squeeze in somewhere else.

Do you use a heat source for him inside?

Here is the current and correct care info. Lots of helpful info in these:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

P.S. I'm over in Santa Clarita. I've got friends in Simi, and I went to Moorpark College.

 

[tiftaf268]

Yep. Looks like their might be a rock or a tree root on the top of his burrow, or he's trying to squeeze in somewhere else.

Do you use a heat source for him inside?

Here is the current and correct care info. Lots of helpful info in these:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

P.S. I'm over in Santa Clarita. I've got friends in Simi, and I went to Moorpark College.

Thanks for replying! No heat lamp for Frank. He had clearance in his burrow, I’m going to recheck it now, but also he will spend hours trying to shove into random spaces outside or even in the house - maybe I need to get him a helmet.

 

[Chefdenoel10]

Haha!!!
I’m picturing a “Hells Angels” helmet on a tortoises shell!!!!