The Tortoise Table

Hello,

Please see attachments for Bill, my Tortoise.

He is about 10-11 inches

Look at the shell, is this ok ? it's a bit deformed but only at the back

Thanks

Hi JCB and many thanks for the photos. He looks like a lovely Sulcata (beautiful colouring). At first I thought he had the beginnings of some pyramiding of scutes, but I've just read Lin's post below, and she is a far greater authority on Sulcatas than I am, so I would follow her advice.

Here's a link to a care sheet for Sulcatas, in case you don't have one: https://www.tortoise-protection-group.o ... 202018.pdf

If you want to check that your husbandry is 100% up to scratch, just give us an idea of how you are keeping him, indoors and out, what sort of UVB source you have, and what calcium supplement you are giving, and we will be happy to give you any advice you think you might need to provide Bill with a long and healthy life.

Nina

Hi JCB
Can I add my thoughts to your tortoises shel. I hope you don’t mind.
Can I ask how old he is, I guessed at male but then realised the name Bill gave it away and he is such a handsome lad.

At 11 inches my thoughts are he is over 7 years (I could be wrong there) but I don’t think he is pyramiding at all, looks like a nice smooth shell. I have marked some points on your photo of what I think.

Green arrow - usually as a male matures this scute will start to form a large dome.
Blue circles - I assume these scutes were split as a birth defect while still inside the shell. Because of this it has caused the ‘dome’ to form unevenly and it is showing on the red circle causing both that and the one below to dome (better seen in the shadow) causing it to look like pyramiding to some.

So I just think this is normal growth that is a bit skewed because of the deformed scutes.

The caresheet that Nina has sent is one that I wrote with another sulcata carer some years ago and still stands with the exception of the diet. We now recommend you try for up to 80% dried or fresh grass with just 20% weeds or flowers.

I hope this is helpful but do get back if there is anything else we can do for you.
Lin