Dry looking shell
Posted: 18 Jan 2022, 08:50
Hi everybody, got a shell question. It's probably nothing but to me, Gonzales' shell looks a bit dry and dull compared to some of the photos I've seen of other mediterranean spur thigh tortoises. Its not flaking, or soft anywhere, its just not the rich shiny colour that I have noticed elsewhere.
UPDATED: There are actually a couple of tiny white bits on top that are in grooves on his shell which might need your advice also, although possibly they are calcium powder that got into a crevice.
He's basking a lot over the last week so maybe that's why - or maybe those other tortoises have their shell oiled to look nice for the photo!
Temperatures are normal under the lamps and he has a sand/soil substrate that we mist daily and mix water into every few days. He is not a digger so doesn't ever get covered by soil. Humidity between 55 and 65. He soaks every day 15-30 mins. His diet is mainly plantain and nettles at the moment with dandelion when we find it, and soaked pre-alpin testudo mixed in - he has this 5 days out of 7.
Thanks,
TP
UPDATED: There are actually a couple of tiny white bits on top that are in grooves on his shell which might need your advice also, although possibly they are calcium powder that got into a crevice.
He's basking a lot over the last week so maybe that's why - or maybe those other tortoises have their shell oiled to look nice for the photo!
Temperatures are normal under the lamps and he has a sand/soil substrate that we mist daily and mix water into every few days. He is not a digger so doesn't ever get covered by soil. Humidity between 55 and 65. He soaks every day 15-30 mins. His diet is mainly plantain and nettles at the moment with dandelion when we find it, and soaked pre-alpin testudo mixed in - he has this 5 days out of 7.
Thanks,
TP