What is this?

[NotortiousBIG]

Hi! Just a new little baby. Been doing so so so much for her each of the four days I’ve had her…but I noticed this on the left side of her face. Some sort of scale that looks abnormal? It’s only on the left side. Can someone please help me figure out what it is?

 

[NotortiousBIG]

View attachment 386505 Hi! Just a new little baby. Been doing so so so much for her each of the four days I’ve had her…but I noticed this on the left side of her face. Some sort of scale that looks abnormal? It’s only on the left side. Can someone please help me figure out what it is?

 

[NotortiousBIG]

From the front

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

did YOU CONACT THE past owner to see if they know what it might be?

 

[DimitriTheTort]

That's a good idea, see if it was there for a while before you got him and if it is an issue. It doesn't look to bad though. Maybe get it checked out just in case.

P.S Your tortoise is very cute

 

[COmtnLady]

Show us a pic of your set-up. Maybe we can help figure out what's going on from it.

 

[NotortiousBIG]

Show us a pic of your set-up. Maybe we can help figure out what's going on from it.

I’ve spent four days and all my energy making sure it’s good enough. 80 ambient, 95 in basking light, uva/uvb reptile light. Ceramic heat emitter in ambient corner. Automatic mister for humidity, low of 70 high of 85. Cypress and cocoa substrate with sphagnum moss. Spray the substrate and turn it daily, soaks daily…so far kale and spider plant diet with calcium and multivitamin powder…

Anyways, I’m more curious to know if this is shedding. I haven’t experienced shedding of a turtle before, so I’d like to know some past experience and maybe compare to what she’s got going on with that one little scale looking thing.

Thank you

 

[COmtnLady]

First, Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!

____________________________________________


Eeep! Remove the moss now! It can cause intestinal impactions.

There is no need to "turn" the substrate. Just remove any discarded food and poops daily.
What does your humidity sit at?
When you say "spray", what exactly do you mean? Are you hand spraying just the surface, or using a mechanical device, or... ? There is a better way than spraying to keep your humidity at the desired levels and with less effort.

Calcium = tiny pinch a couple times per week, three times at the most. Too much is as bad as not enough. Do you have a cuttlebone in the habitat in case your tort wants more calcium.

Get rid of that plastic water dish. Its too slippery and the sides too high, both of which are a drowning hazard. A terracotta plant saucer, counter sunk to level with the substrate, is safer and better. The rougher surface gives your baby traction and the sides are lower so he can walk in or out as he pleases. It has the added benefit of wearing down the toe nails so you won't have to clip them as much.

Have you had a chance to read this yet? It will give you a lot of info on how best to raise a healthy tortoise.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/info-for-new-people-please-read-this-first.202363/
And this is germane to your specific needs:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-best-way-to-raise-any-temperate-species-of-tortoise.183131/


__________________________________________________


For your own peace of mind, settle in and don't pay attention to other sources (especially not social media, pet shop people, people at reptile shows, and even most veterinarians - whatever bits of info they share that are useable, will already be here, too, but most of their info is out-dated and wrong-to-dangerous to follow).


Study the info in the links offered. All those head-exploding details will show you how to help your tortoise to thrive.

And, ask a lot of questions.

Run it by the experts here before you buy new equipment or whatever - their expertise will save you a lot of time, stress, and money.

 

[NotortiousBIG]

First, Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!

____________________________________________


Eeep! Remove the moss now! It can cause intestinal impactions.

There is no need to "turn" the substrate. Just remove any discarded food and poops daily.
What does your humidity sit at?
When you say "spray", what exactly do you mean? Are you hand spraying just the surface, or using a mechanical device, or... ? There is a better way than spraying to keep your humidity at the desired levels and with less effort.

Calcium = tiny pinch a couple times per week, three times at the most. Too much is as bad as not enough. Do you have a cuttlebone in the habitat in case your tort wants more calcium.


Have you had a chance to read this yet? It will give you a lot of info on how best to raise a healthy tortoise.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/info-for-new-people-please-read-this-first.202363/
And this is germane to your specific needs:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-best-way-to-raise-any-temperate-species-of-tortoise.183131/


__________________________________________________


For your own peace of mind, settle in and don't pay attention to other sources (especially not social media, pet shop people, people at reptile shows, and even most veterinarians - whatever bits of info they share that are useable, will already be here, too, but most of their info is out-dated and wrong-to-dangerous to follow).


Study the info in the links offered. All those head-exploding details will show you how to help your tortoise to thrive.

And, ask a lot of questions.

Run it by the experts here before you buy new equipment or whatever - their expertise will save you a lot of time, stress, and money

Thank you this is appreciated. Doesn’t have to do with my ask on shedding…but I guess I’ll take it.

Can you please direct me towards a source about sphagnum moss being dangerous? The many sources I’ve checked before purchasing has said it’s not harmful.

Thanks for your time

 

[longevity]

View attachment 386505 Hi! Just a new little baby. Been doing so so so much for her each of the four days I’ve had her…but I noticed this on the left side of her face. Some sort of scale that looks abnormal? It’s only on the left side. Can someone please help me figure out what it is?

It seems skin shedding. My baby did that too.. the shedding will be around neck and head.. try to soak the baby in warm water to loosen any shedding skin; Don't ever pull it by yourself!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Are there any missing nails or yellow bumps? There are some diseases that can cause abnormal shedding.

 

[NotortiousBIG]

Are there any missing nails or yellow bumps? There are some diseases that can cause abnormal shedding.

Nope, just this lil scale thingy

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Nope, just this lil scale thingy

Good to hear.

 

[COmtnLady]

Thank you this is appreciated. Doesn’t have to do with my ask on shedding…but I guess I’ll take it.

Sometimes its best to deal with an immediate danger, over whatever the original subject was,

Can you please direct me towards a source about sphagnum moss being dangerous? The many sources I’ve checked before purchasing has said it’s not harmful.

Thanks for your time

Google Search

AI Overview
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While sphagnum moss is generally considered safe for tortoises, it can pose a potential impaction hazard if a tortoise ingests large quantities of it, especially if the moss is dry and fibrous, as it may not pass through their digestive system easily; therefore, it's best to use it with caution and monitor your tortoise for any signs of digestive issues if they do ingest some.

Key points about sphagnum moss and tortoises:

• Potential for impaction:
  Although not toxic, the fibrous nature of sphagnum moss can cause a blockage in a tortoise's digestive tract if they eat too much of it, particularly if it is dry.
  
  
• Use in moderation:
  If you choose to use sphagnum moss in your tortoise enclosure, provide it only in small amounts and monitor your tortoise for any signs of digestive discomfort.

These don't generally explain "why", but are posts from our most trusted members.

Impaction....?

I've heard all about this impaction risk which has often got me to wondering where it all came from? See I'm quite a practical thinker and I see things that maybe others miss. Allow me to share my thoughts on what I've understood about substrate, namely sand and the term impaction. I first...

tortoiseforum.org

Terrarium Sphangnum Moss

Hey is this moss safe for consumption? My tort keeps nibbling it.

tortoiseforum.org

Red Foot Spagnum Moss

Is spagnum moss safe for my Red Foot? The fogger saturates the substrate on the corner where the tube enters the enclosure. I was hoping spagnum moss in a small bowl could soak it up hold humidity and prevent total saturation in that corner Any recommendations?

tortoiseforum.org

Sphagnum Peat Moss

I accidentaly bought spaghnum peat moss instead of just spaghnum moss for my baby sulcata and i was wondering if this was ok for him of do i have to buy something else?

tortoiseforum.org

 

[NotortiousBIG]

Sometimes its best to deal with an immediate danger, over whatever the original subject was,

Google Search

These don't generally explain "why", but are posts from our most trusted members.

Impaction....?

I've heard all about this impaction risk which has often got me to wondering where it all came from? See I'm quite a practical thinker and I see things that maybe others miss. Allow me to share my thoughts on what I've understood about substrate, namely sand and the term impaction. I first...

tortoiseforum.org

Terrarium Sphangnum Moss

Hey is this moss safe for consumption? My tort keeps nibbling it.

tortoiseforum.org

Red Foot Spagnum Moss

Is spagnum moss safe for my Red Foot? The fogger saturates the substrate on the corner where the tube enters the enclosure. I was hoping spagnum moss in a small bowl could soak it up hold humidity and prevent total saturation in that corner Any recommendations?

tortoiseforum.org

Sphagnum Peat Moss

I accidentaly bought spaghnum peat moss instead of just spaghnum moss for my baby sulcata and i was wondering if this was ok for him of do i have to buy something else?

tortoiseforum.org

Appreciate it!! I think what I’ll do since I love the absorption and humidity is chop it up and put it at the very bottom of the substrate! Don’t want to risk missing a balanced meal for moss lol

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

Yes, Tortoises don't dig

 

[NotortiousBIG]

Yes, Tortoises don't dig

Mine simply doesn’t, at least not yet

 

[Daffodil]

I love the absorption and humidity is chop it up and put it at the very bottom of the substrate!

If you're using it for humidity, I wonder if you could put it in a bowl (that the tortoise couldn't get into) and set the bowl in the enclosure? When I was having trouble getting humidity in my tort's enclosure up, I set a bowl of water that he couldn't fall into in his enclosure.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Thank you this is appreciated. Doesn’t have to do with my ask on shedding…but I guess I’ll take it.

Can you please direct me towards a source about sphagnum moss being dangerous? The many sources I’ve checked before purchasing has said it’s not harmful.

Thanks for your time

It 'can" cause impaction it's really not edible for them...And because we are here simply to help tortoises, when new keeper has something wrong or dangerous, we say something. This is not FB, we care and have many decades of chelonia care...welcome...I think that's shedding and nothing to worry about...
welcome

 

[TammyJ]

Welcome to the forum. Please keep us updated.