male or female?

[Alan1]

.. but what kind of conditions might it have been kept in to cause that unusual shape. I haven't seen one that shape as far as I remember.

I would say female too

[Easter Bunny]

Originally Posted by caledonia

.. but what kind of conditions might it have been kept in to cause that unusual shape. I haven't seen one that shape as far as I remember.

I would say female too

Not sure yet Alan, seller hasn't got back to me yet. x

I did see this article

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/webdiet.htm

If you scroll down a bit there is a flat looking tortoise

[EJ]

I've seen many in that shape... a good amount posted by the TT claiming it was the result of high protein. That is pretty much how the myth got started.

It's going to be a slow process but open knowledge will undo what that organization has done.

Key factors... heat and hydration... then nutrition. It depends on what kind of dogfood the tortoise was fed. High fat and meat byproducts does the same thing to any vertebrate.

Originally Posted by caledonia

.. but what kind of conditions might it have been kept in to cause that unusual shape. I haven't seen one that shape as far as I remember.

I would say female too

[Catwoman63]

Originally Posted by LYNNEE

Not sure yet Alan, seller hasn't got back to me yet. x

I did see this article

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/webdiet.htm

If you scroll down a bit there is a flat looking tortoise

I've seen that article before and I think the one you are thinking of getting is worse, I just don't know how the seller can ask that amount of money for a tortoise that is in that much bad shape, they need to justify the price and look at some pictures and see what the tortoise should look like , that might make them consider a much lower price x

[Alan1]

the TT reckons .. "The diet was also seriously calcium deficient. Instead of developing a normal, rounded carapace shape, it developed the typical lumpy, flattened form characteristic of MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease)"

if that is the case then you may be facing vet bills

[Easter Bunny]

Originally Posted by caledonia

the TT reckons .. "The diet was also seriously calcium deficient. Instead of developing a normal, rounded carapace shape, it developed the typical lumpy, flattened form characteristic of MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease)"

if that is the case then you may be facing vet bills

I know, I'm mad.. I shouldn't have looked. I don't think the seller will sell for what I've offered anyway. £100. Poor tort, wish I could get it. I could sort vets bills out for it to give it a chance. My birthday end of this month, I usually get money from my family so that could go towards vets bills.

[egyptiandan64]

I agree it's a female.

Danny

[EJ]

Recently came across an actual study that disproved that calcium and phosphorous had anything to do with shell development.

I've seen calcium deficient tortoises that were perfectly well formed.

I don't think I'd have any problem finding cases where a tortoise that is malformed does not have MBD.

With a little education outside of... you know... keepers will learn the truth.

Originally Posted by caledonia

the TT reckons .. "The diet was also seriously calcium deficient. Instead of developing a normal, rounded carapace shape, it developed the typical lumpy, flattened form characteristic of MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease)"

if that is the case then you may be facing vet bills

[Easter Bunny]

Just heard from the seller, she is quite concerned for the tortoise now as I pointed out a few things. She said she had taken it to the vet (not reptile vet) and thay said it was the lack of uv that caused the shell to grow that way. So she got it a uv strip.

Anyway here is the email she sent me (easier)

Oh my god I feel awful, I brought him 3 years ago in the 2foot tank he lived in, I kept him in there up until a few weeks ago, now he lives outside during the day and in an area behind our settee during the evening, I was told I could feed him lettuce, I've always fed him on lettuce, tortoise pellets. I took him to the vet a year ago about his shell, they said it was due to lack of uv light, so I brought a new uv light which has helped a bit but not much! Also he sneaks into the kitchen in the evening to eat my dogs food, he seems to love it. :'( I don't want him to suffer. How much would u offer? Really grateful for ur help x

[Catwoman63]

Originally Posted by LYNNEE

Just heard from the seller, she is quite concerned for the tortoise now as I pointed out a few things. She said she had taken it to the vet (not reptile vet) and thay said it was the lack of uv that caused the shell to grow that way. So she got it a uv strip.

Anyway here is the email she sent me (easier)

Oh my god I feel awful, I brought him 3 years ago in the 2foot tank he lived in, I kept him in there up until a few weeks ago, now he lives outside during the day and in an area behind our settee during the evening, I was told I could feed him lettuce, I've always fed him on lettuce, tortoise pellets. I took him to the vet a year ago about his shell, they said it was due to lack of uv light, so I brought a new uv light which has helped a bit but not much! Also he sneaks into the kitchen in the evening to eat my dogs food, he seems to love it. :'( I don't want him to suffer. How much would u offer? Really grateful for ur help x

Your in a really good position here Lynne to make an offer you would want to pay for her, especially as now you could say because of possible vet bills i will offer ......, Its sounds like the owner had all good intentions, but tbh my tortoises never go near my dogs food bowl and if they did, the bowl is high enough not to be able to reach inside and i would pick it up anyway!!! x