Why does Sammie have a soft spot?

by Shawna
(Roseburg, OR, USA)

I have a baby sulcata tortoise and I just noticed that he has a soft spot on the bottom of his shell what do I do please help!!!!! I love him and thought I was doing all the right things.

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Feb 20, 2010

Soft Tortoise Shell Cure
by: Shelly

The soft tortoise shell is probably because your tortoise does not have enough calcium or light. It could very well be both.

Since the shell is already soft, you should see a vet for help to correct the problem as soon as possible. That's the tortoise's outer skeleton that is ruined, and we all need good skeletons.

Tortoises need light to metabolize all the nutrients they need, so just giving calcium won't fix the problem. But you do need to give calcium. You can use a powder or a cuttlebone.

Please see a vet soon.

Keep it slow and steady.

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