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Old 10-09-2012, 06:04 PM   #1
achilles
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Default Slight 'give' in rear scute? - 1 year old Med. spur thigh

Hi Folks,

We have a lovely 1-year old Med. Spur Thigh who spends most of his days on a tortoise table, mixed terrain, under UV strip lamp and basking lamp. When weather has allowed it, he's been roaming (under close protection!) outside. His diet is almost exclusively weeds (once a week he has tortoise pellets) and we alternate sprinkling either Neutrobol or Calcium Carbonate on his leaves.

Today when bathing him I noticed there was just a hint of 'give' in his shell at the very back (the Supra Candal Scute?).

For about two or three days in the last week he was grazing weeds from the garden (therefore no Neutrobol or Calcium Carbonate) so we were wondering if this might be the problem? (lack of calcium due to no 'additives'?).

Any advice gratefully received. Thank you.
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Old 10-09-2012, 06:24 PM   #2
anna m
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Do you have heat/uva/uvb lamp for him?
maybe he needs extra calcium
put cuttlefish bone in
the vet can give calcium injections
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Old 10-09-2012, 06:43 PM   #3
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I doubt no calcium for a couple days would cause it. When I first got my male Hermann he had no calcium for the first 3 months.

Maybe upping his calcium intake.

Do you have cuttlefish bone in with him or a calcium block or dish of calcium?

How old is your Uv tube too?


I'm sure the experts will be along soon
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Old 10-09-2012, 06:59 PM   #4
achilles
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Default UV & calcium

Thank you for suggestions, questions.

He's got some cuttle-fish bone in with him and has the occasional nibble of that and the UV strip bulb is about 2 months old.
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Old 10-09-2012, 11:02 PM   #5
shellonia
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Maybe you've only just noticed it? There is still some pliability at that age so if he's eating well and having supplements just keep an eye on it.
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Old 10-09-2012, 11:13 PM   #6
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There is unlikely to be any problem here. You have to remember young tortoises have pliable shells for some time. Remember how springy the plastron was for the first few months of life?
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Old 11-09-2012, 12:05 AM   #7
achilles
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Default Thank you

Thank you (am likely to sleep much better now!). Will keep an eye as you say.

Very grateful for help.

Kind regards
A
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