russian tortoise shell peeling and curling at edges

Question
We just got a small Russian tortoise, and I noticed right away that its shell has a small peeling area that is pale in color but hard under the peeling part.  Also, the edges of the shell are thin and curl upward a little, which looks different from picture of Russian tortoises I have seen in books and on the internet.  Could this be some form of shell rot or diet deficiency?  What should I do for this little guy?  P.S.  He's eating well and pooping fine.  Thanks.

Answer
This is more often a sign of stress and dry conditions. Most Russians for sale were wild-caught, and the stresses and shipping conditions, combined with the care in the pet shop, contribute to a wide range of stress-related problems.

To combat this, basically just offer the tortoise the right care and give the flaking time to go away. It may take a few months to see a big difference, but it should fade as the shell grows more normally.

Two good sites for care info are
- http://www.russiantortoise.org and
- http://www.tortoisetrust.org