Fun True Fact:: every turtle on this planet has 13 sections (or scutes) surrounded by 28 sections (or ridges) around it. That is why they are associated with the passage of time since their shell is the perfect lunar calendar.
Desert tortoises should VERY rarerly, if at all, eat fruits. It isnt part of their natural diet. The sugar in fruits lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration in desert torts.
This isn't a baby. This looks like a full-grown Sonoran Desert tortoise, in my opinion. So, yes. This feller shouldn't be allowed fruit, in my humble opinion.
Thanks, internet stranger. I learned something new today about turtle husbandry:
Turtle pyramiding is a, generally, irreversible shell deformity where scutes grow upward into steep, "bumpy" peaks, rather than growing flat. It is primarily caused by low humidity (dry environment), inadequate diet, and lack of UVB lighting, rather than being a genetic issue. While not always fatal, severe cases cause pain, mobility issues, and indicate poor husbandry.
That fact that the condition is irreversible also means that it is entirely possible that this turtle is in fact getting the care it needs now, even if it did not in the past. We should all try not to jump to conclusions with incomplete information.
I was given charge of two little turts and knew nothing about turtles. One had a pronounced ridge on it's "spine". I assumed that was normal until I did some more research. They were also severely undersized - they hadn't grown much in size in the 2+yrs that the previous owners had had them.
I got them into a good sized tank, heat lamp & sun lamp, kept the water clean... but it took 2-3months before they were eating well. They'd been fed nothing but bloodworms by the previous owners, which is the equivalent of mcdonalds. They didn't even recognise anything else as food at first, so I had to keep bloodworms in their diet while I introduced them to other foods.
After about a year they showed a lot of improvement, and the spiny one's ridge was barely visible anymore.
So yeah, if you looked at those turtles, even a year later when they were doing better, you might think I was mistreating them because it was obvious that they weren't in the best shape.
(I no longer have them, I found a rescue org that accepted them, where they could get better care from people with better knowledge and resources.)
Tenzil
No need to unmute.
CitrusyGarlic
Havin' a monch
Guluzinyu
This is a strobbery.
Blackfinity
Kyzyl
Fun False Fact: The only natural predator of strawberries are turtles.
lindsaygoldstein24
And me.
detstevegrabowski
Fun True Fact:: every turtle on this planet has 13 sections (or scutes) surrounded by 28 sections (or ridges) around it. That is why they are associated with the passage of time since their shell is the perfect lunar calendar.
CBidness
Favorited this post for this comment. Turtles all the way down the line huh?
circlebreaker
amporacle
Native American women used them to track their periods
graehall
damn imagine having to stuff a turtle up ya clacka for a week every month
TexMexHex
Severe pyramiding. That tortoise does not have a good diet.
Iblamemyparentstoo
Pikkupanda
Do you know more turtle and tortoise facts? I know I’m not the only one who’d be interested.
TexMexHex
Desert tortoises should VERY rarerly, if at all, eat fruits. It isnt part of their natural diet. The sugar in fruits lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration in desert torts.
Pikkupanda
Is that what this baby is?
TexMexHex
This isn't a baby. This looks like a full-grown Sonoran Desert tortoise, in my opinion. So, yes. This feller shouldn't be allowed fruit, in my humble opinion.
Pikkupanda
Oh I meant baby as an adoration not literal. This tortoise is clearly not terribly young judging by the shell.
What do these fellows usually eat?
Kyzyl
Thanks, internet stranger. I learned something new today about turtle husbandry:
Turtle pyramiding is a, generally, irreversible shell deformity where scutes grow upward into steep, "bumpy" peaks, rather than growing flat. It is primarily caused by low humidity (dry environment), inadequate diet, and lack of UVB lighting, rather than being a genetic issue. While not always fatal, severe cases cause pain, mobility issues, and indicate poor husbandry.
TexMexHex
Yup
FelonyRaptor
So that turtle needs to divorce asap and find a better husband. Got it.
TexMexHex
My 85lb African Sulcata thinks I am her husband.
choppedliveraldente
........ I hope your relationship is ..... healthy
weirdscienceyall
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1OW51dmhnM2Foc3B2dXBnZ2N0dHltZjUwejBoNXNuYnU5Z25rd3hsZiZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/KiZYYNqc3mSLNSF4ev/200w.webp
looker42
That fact that the condition is irreversible also means that it is entirely possible that this turtle is in fact getting the care it needs now, even if it did not in the past. We should all try not to jump to conclusions with incomplete information.
IcedVenom
I was given charge of two little turts and knew nothing about turtles. One had a pronounced ridge on it's "spine". I assumed that was normal until I did some more research. They were also severely undersized - they hadn't grown much in size in the 2+yrs that the previous owners had had them.
IcedVenom
I got them into a good sized tank, heat lamp & sun lamp, kept the water clean... but it took 2-3months before they were eating well. They'd been fed nothing but bloodworms by the previous owners, which is the equivalent of mcdonalds. They didn't even recognise anything else as food at first, so I had to keep bloodworms in their diet while I introduced them to other foods.
After about a year they showed a lot of improvement, and the spiny one's ridge was barely visible anymore.
IcedVenom
So yeah, if you looked at those turtles, even a year later when they were doing better, you might think I was mistreating them because it was obvious that they weren't in the best shape.
(I no longer have them, I found a rescue org that accepted them, where they could get better care from people with better knowledge and resources.)