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Old 17-10-2008, 04:13 PM   #1
Mrs Frog
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Default olive oil on shell

My friend puts olive oil on her tortoises shells,they are hatchlings and hermanns is this ok and what benefit is it to them?
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Old 17-10-2008, 04:28 PM   #2
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No benefits at all, it does darken the shell and it gets clogged, below is are 2 pictures of an Ibera tortoise, Bertie, who was oiled, we have been cleaning him to get it off, but even after 2 weeks there are still bits in the grooves of the growth lines. He has also had some shell rot, but we are not sure if this was a result of the oiling. He also had a bit of white paint on him to help find him
Before the cleaning


After some cleaning, there is still some oil to clean off, so he will get a bit lighter when we have finished.
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Old 17-10-2008, 04:37 PM   #3
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because olive oil is a food based product, it will eventually rot. it clogs the pores that tortoises need to take in uv rays. it is a practise that is quite outdated and definately an old tradition.

avoid doing this at all costs, just think. in the wild, would these tortoises cover their shells in olive oil? not at all.

to clean a tortoises shell simply use water, i use a soft nailbrush to get in here and there and it does the job perfectly.

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Old 17-10-2008, 04:48 PM   #4
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i use a little paintbrush to keep my torts shell clean and he is a lovely bright colour
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Old 17-10-2008, 04:49 PM   #5
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Oh my goodness,going to show her this thread,thank you,I am glad I checked with you
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Old 17-10-2008, 05:24 PM   #6
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When mine I have a bath I use an old toothbrush to give them a gentle wash and they seem to like it, not too sure how they can feel it but it calms them down and they stretch their necks out.
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Old 21-10-2008, 08:50 AM   #7
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She's cooking her tortoise's shell. Literally!
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Old 21-10-2008, 10:00 PM   #8
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imagine the effects if you put olive oil all over you and went out, omg you'd fry
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Old 21-10-2008, 10:23 PM   #9
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I've done it, I did
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Old 23-10-2008, 04:32 PM   #10
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There is a chance that it could cause infection because it is a food based product that can go bad/rot...

As to it clogging anything... the shell does not have pores. It is no different than a fingernail.

The only benefit it might have is that it would keep the margins of growth moist and might help in the prevention of pyramiding. I don't think the risk is worth the possible benefit.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackie Stone View Post
My friend puts olive oil on her tortoises shells,they are hatchlings and hermanns is this ok and what benefit is it to them?
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