A tortoise’s shell is a part of the overall skeleton, and a healthy shell grows smooth and even. When the shell does not grow properly, deformities can occur. You cannot reverse shell deformity in sulcata tortoises, but you can correct the mistakes that cause them and prevent further deformity.
The most common type of shell deformity in sulcata tortoises is pyramiding and metabolic bone disease. Pyramiding occurs when the growth is upward instead of outward, and the scutes are pushed up, forming pyramids. Metabolic bone disease occurs when there isn’t enough calcium in the tortoise’s diet, which can lead to a soft shell or a deformed shell.
What Causes Shell Deformities in Tortoises?
In most cases, shell deformity in tortoises are caused by diet. Once in a while a small snack is fine, but a bad diet over a long period of time can cause pyramiding and shell deformity.
- Overfeeding
- Diet high in protein
- Diet high in fat
- Imbalance of calcium and phosphorus
Sulcata tortoises need a diet high in fiber and low in fats. The means a diet high in grasses and high fiber greens. Avoid feeding fruits and vegetables.
Calcium Supplements for Tortoise
As a part of a well-balanced diet, it’s important to ensure proper calcium supplements. For the most part, tortoises should get proper calcium, phosphorus and other nutrients in a well-balanced diet, but providing a cuttlebone or calcium powder a few times a week can ensure that the tortoise is consuming proper amounts of calcium.
Calcium is important for strong bones and a durable, healthy shell.
Other Causes of Tortoise Shell Deformity
- Too small enclosure, causing the tortoise to live a sedentary lifestyle
- Lack of vitamin D3 and sunlight
- Dehydration
- Lack of humidity in the enclosure (priority requirement for baby sulcata tortoises)
- Poor genetics, predisposing the tortoise to shell abnormalities
Are Split Scutes a Shell Deformity?
Split scutes, also called mis-scutes or extra scutes, can technically be considered a shell deformity.
Sulcata tortoises should have 5 vertebral scutes (in the middle) and 4 costal scutes on each side. Sometimes, sulcata babies hatch with extra scutes or missing scutes, where some of the scutes have combined into one.
This will NOT affect the tortoise’s health or growth. Split scutes makes the sulcata unique. It is merely a cosmetic deformity.
