just a few quick questions

[mervs*mummy]

I got my tortoise today
Ive just been bathing him (he smelt a bit grim ) and noticed the underneith of him was peeling a bit
Im going to try and get some pics of him in a bit to show you but it was just like a split nail is it normal or something I should be concerned about?

also he has green paint on his shell any ideas how to get it off? the person I had him off of said the petshop done it that would have been months ago

other than that he is lovely his trumping about his table already planning his excape route
hes so sweet I was stroking his head and when I stopped he grunted and stuck it out more for me to do it again

[linda]

a picture would be best to rule out shell rot

when you say he smelt a bit grim

do you mean soil type smell or worse some infections can cause a smell

[mervs*mummy]

Linda the old owners kept him in a viv with only what I could descripe as wood chip but it was all crumbly when it got wet the tank was filthy and full of flys
I felt like crying when I saw him
Im not an experianced person but Ive lurked here for long enough to know it wasnt right

Ill get the pics asap to show you
whats shell rot? is it harmful?
Is off to have a panick now

[sarah]

Originally Posted by mervs*mummy

I got my tortoise today
Ive just been bathing him (he smelt a bit grim ) and noticed the underneith of him was peeling a bit
Im going to try and get some pics of him in a bit to show you but it was just like a split nail is it normal or something I should be concerned about?

also he has green paint on his shell any ideas how to get it off? the person I had him off of said the petshop done it that would have been months ago

other than that he is lovely his trumping about his table already planning his excape route
hes so sweet I was stroking his head and when I stopped he grunted and stuck it out more for me to do it again

Tortoises are reptiles and their skin does peel off, it is more noticable in horsfields. Keep up with the baths but never pull the skin off.

Some breeders use tipex or nail varnish to mark their tortoises to see who is who. While bathing give the paint a little scrub to see if it lifts it any.

[sarah]

Originally Posted by mervs*mummy

Linda the old owners kept him in a viv with only what I could descripe as wood chip but it was all crumbly when it got wet the tank was filthy and full of flys
I felt like crying when I saw him
Im not an experianced person but Ive lurked here for long enough to know it wasnt right

Ill get the pics asap to show you
whats shell rot? is it harmful?
Is off to have a panick now

If your really worried I will come around and take a look if you want.

[mervs*mummy]

aww sarah thats nice of you
Ive just been to examine him all over
But I have a feeling he is very boisterious so it could be just he draggs himself about alot
hes broke his water bowl already and he wedged himslef between his shelter and the side of the tub and pulled himslef the whole way down

after I bath him he made a break for freedom

[linda]

please dont panic

because you said your tort had a smell and some peeling to the shell i thought they are common symptoms of shell rot


your tort will be fine

Shell-rot is a term that describes the effects of bacterial, fungal diseases of a tortoise shell

These diseases may be caused bt trauma to the shell and or incorrect husbandry housing conditions

once the cause is determined and corrected

the rot needs to be sorted

usually with the swabbing of a diluted povidone-iodine solution

[linda]

sorry after rereading your 1st post

are you saying the skin is peeling or the shell

[mervs*mummy]

thanks linda
Im just loading the camera software onto my lappie so shouldnt be long

[mervs*mummy]

well that was a barrel of laughs I couldnt find where I saved the pics too



and he is eating *does a happy dance* he has just tucked into a bowel of danelions