We recently received this photo wondering what could have happened with this egg. Upon close inspection, the tortoise laid the egg without a shell. The cause is likely due to a lack of calcium. We asked if the owner provided calcium cupcakes, a cuttle bone or supplements sprinkled on food. The answer was 'no'.
Lack of calcium can lead to a variety of complications. It is especially important in hatchlings. Without enough calcium, they can develop (then maintain) a shell with some flex. While we anticipate some flexibility in tortoises under a year, older animals' shells shouldn't have any give. Torts that have a diet low in calcium, can develop weak bones, outgrow their shells and have Metabolic Bone Disease - MBD. MBD presents itself as quilting in the tortoise's shell (think of a pan of biscuits). As our vet says, "Most tortoisey anomalies take a long time to happen; even longer to correct." Once a shell is severely malformed from MBD it may never look normal; a tortoise who outgrows its shell will always be vulnerable to other torts and predators. Another component to getting your tortoise on track with calcium is understanding why UVA/B are necessary. Torts need exposure to ultraviolet radiation A and B in order to manufacture vitamin D3. D3 is what allows the calcium to become absorbed in the digestive tract. Wild tortoises bask 8-14 hours/day to receive the necessary rays to aid in digestion, so if you have indoor torts (or winter them indoors) you'll want to provide appropriate lighting. (We can help if you have questions) On our Resources Page, you'll find a link to a terrific calcium cupcake recipie. Alternatively a cuttle bone (found in the bird section of the pet store) or powder to sprinkle on food 1-3x/week can be purchased through Carolina Pet Supply. Food should be dark leafy greens (preferrably weeds) but some grocery store finds are good, too. Be sure to check the Tortoise Table for safety and stay away from Romaine and Iceberg Lettuce! If you suspect your tortoise to have MBD or low calcium, take it to the vet. He/She can perform a radiograph to determine the severity and degree of MBD. Sometimes the vet will run a blood panel to ensure the animals other systems haven't been affected. If you have questions, we're happy to help!
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AuthorThe Tort Resort is a Whidbey Island based project dedicated to rescue and rehab of smaller tortoise species. Archives
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