Yes, the extra scutes are caused by either irregular incubation temperatures, excessively high incubation temperatures, or insufficient incubation humidity. The insufficient humidity factor often renders hatchlings of a smaller than normal size as well. Keep in mind these factors can all work in combination. Despite the unusual appearance of the animal, I've seen wild adult animals with such deformities (the world doesn't always offer perfect conditions, afterall), and such would suggest that such deformity is not necessarily a hindrance to survival. With hatchlings, the key is to simply keep them safe from predators. If you follow a variety of internet sources and streamline your own method, your tortoise should do fine. So long as he is eating greens (dandelion, sow thistle, grasses, lettuce, etc.), getting plenty of calcium, and given the ability to thermoregulate and roam a large space without succumbing to boredom, he should be fine.



T.G.

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