10-09-2012, 06:04 PM | #1 |
Junior Member
Egg
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 21
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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. |
10-09-2012, 06:24 PM | #2 |
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Adult
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 4,091
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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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10-09-2012, 06:43 PM | #3 |
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Adult
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Norton Canes, UK
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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 |
10-09-2012, 06:59 PM | #4 |
Junior Member
Egg
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 21
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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. |
10-09-2012, 11:02 PM | #5 |
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Sub Adult
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: central s england
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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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10-09-2012, 11:13 PM | #6 |
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Juvenile
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: South East
Posts: 845
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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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11-09-2012, 12:05 AM | #7 |
Junior Member
Egg
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 21
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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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