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turtle skin growth

22 16:20:15

Question
My turtle is a forest hingeback.  I've had it since July but it is about 6" long.  It has just recently had a growth near its mouth..it almost looks like crusted food.  It also is starting to get a problem with its mouth where it is not eating hard enough food to wear it down.  If you email me, I can send you a picture of its mouth so you can see it.  My biggest problem is that this tortoise will only eat tomatoes and occasionally watermelon and butternut squash.  It refuses all leafy greens, green beans, crickets, worms, strawberries, etc.  I give it vitamins and calcium on a daily basis.  It appears fine, but worries me that it won't eat a variety of food and no protein.  He feels heavy and his shell is firm, but I worry long term.  So, if you have any suggestions I'd appreciate it!  Also, how do I get him to wear down his mouth?  I can't open his mouth...anytime I try to do anything around his mouth he shoots in his shell and I can't do anything!
Thanks so much for any help you can give me!
Melonie

Answer
Well...

Let's look at this a different way. This is a species that needs good environmental control- 85ish temps, 90%+ humidity. They are spurred to eat by warm rains.

If you are already doing that, then skip this next section.

Set things up so as to offer the high warm humidity it needs- if you can make it rain for while every day or so, so much the better. (I use a clean garden sprayer filled with warm water and pumped up a lot. It will run for a while.)

Once temps and humidity are right, see if it starts to eat greens and other veggies- just withhold the other stuff for several days.

If you are already doing the high humidity and rain bit...

Providing these temps and humidity levels is tough without enclosing the habitat, and that tends to cause bad air. Try to find a way to offer more clean air (often, a small fan sucking 'old' air out of the habitat is enough). Stinky air can turn tortoises off their feed.



If he does not start eating again with the habitat changes, then the overgrowth may be part of the issue. It may be the result of too-much calcium supplement, especially if the calcium:phosphorous ratio is off or if the vitamin D is not adequate.

From the description, I cannot tell of the 'crud' you are seeing is anything important or not- but if the above does not get it eating again, I would tend to blame that. The problem then becomes getting it the right care. I would recommend a vet at that point.