My rehome has the most beautiful shell dispite husbandry?

[dae]

Hi All,

Introducing my second rehome Ethal. The thing is as you may have seen from the 'Health' section that their husbandry was a little challenged-

Negatives
she and her friend Doris were kept in a viv with a scattering of gravel covering a wooden base, heat mat one end heat lamp the other, fed on little gem and apple. Never hibernated and no UV ever

Positives
They were bathed a few times a week
Nutrobal was used here and there
They went into the garden on the odd occasion when the dog wasn't out
They ran around the house alot so got to exercise out of the viv


She is 3 years old (horsefield) and they have had her since she was tiny.

My question is then- why doesn't she look like a tort that has had some challenged husbandry and no UV what so ever (owner didn't know to use it) - she's the most beautifully formed (I can only see the outside) I've ever seen- her growth, whilst being far far too big if she is really only 3, is perfect! A high amount of new growth but it's smooth and perfect. Yet I do everything right myself according to the forum etc and my Charlie is starting to bump a little (she was already bumpy when I got her! but is still growing bumpy).

Meet Ethal

[Dawn Fletcher]

she is a wonder.....and gorgeous too!!

Dawn
xXx

[dae]

Yes I didn't think about the nutrobal having D3 in it- thanks for pointing that out. It was only used here and there tho. They were actually well loved (eventhough they got a few things wrong) - the young lad who's they were just got bored of them so his mum rehomed them to me. His loss my gain!

Wow so nutrobal really is actually great if that's what's kept her growth so smooth- even in small irregular amounts!

[Bindi]

Originally Posted by stells

There are alot of factors involved... aand i am not saying every tortoise raised this way would turn out so well... there could be other underlying problems that can't be seen... but the tortoise does look good... from the other pics in vets they do need a beak trim... so everyone no rushing off and feeding your tortoises little gem and apple... and not allowing them much outside time...

I agree, Ethal looks fab, but I believe that as with humans, some are genetically stronger than others. Some torts will survive and flourish in conditions which are less than perfect, whereas others will be prone to illness, MBD etc.
I have a bumpy 3 yr old with whom I've had no end of problems in the year that I've had him, despite being raised on a diet of weeds, UV, outside living etc. I just feel he is a weakling and that's that.

[dae]

It's so interesting you mentioned that as I was just wondering if she is just a strong one, she's like a duracell bunny too she just never ever stops digging, climbing and exploring. I've never had one quite like her. Yet I am the same as you Bindi and have some slightly poorly less hardy ones too. Anyways early days, like I said and as Stells rightly pointed out, we can only see what's on the outside- and actually only time will tell. I will be very interested to see if I get smooth growth from her under my husbandry! Then I came blame Charlie for her bumps and not myself Lol!

[helen1]

i...lovely tortoise...are you sure she is 3yrs old?...she looks bigger!....and what does she weigh...lucky you!!

[Lolly8]

She has a very smooth shell and she's gorgeous!Congratulation.

[CJ]

Wow, she's really gorgeous! Beautiful shell and shape!

[Paulg1]

she does look much older then 3 but then again people have told me that my sully is older then she is.

[Zen]

She is very sweet, lucky you.