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is it normal for a sulcata to have it's skin flake off? he is growing like a weed, while eating them, tons of hay and grasses, a bit of collards. he has totally turned arnd from when i got him (had a URI). he's a baby, about 5 inches.

thanks so much
hunter

I do not work with G. sulcatta, but flaking skin, especially noticeable on the neck usually indicates growth in most tortoises. This is a very common cause of concern, and if your animal is otherwise healthy and feeding and "happy", it is nothing to worry about and you will see more of it. Good luck, Vic

I havn't seen flaking skin at all in my 3 yr old sulcatta (had since hatchling). While lack of observation is a possibility (I admit I usually only get to spend time once daily), there is a normal shed cycle, however this is presented. Nonetheless, overly flakey skin could indicate a husbandry/health problem. Perhaps post a picture or consult someone in your area who is familiar with the species. It is hard to derive what is normal over the internet, esp without pics.

It is one large flake, which looks familiar to a shed (i keep snakes, fairly new to sulcatas), with healthy skin in place under it. He has put on a lot of weight, as he is in his growing phase.

I can almost 100% guarentee it is not husbandry, as his diet is exactly what is recommended....almost all fiber sources with just a bit of veggies added in. Also, i noticed the flake right after soaking him the other night (he gets soaked daily for a bit of time) which leads me to believe that it is just his shed.

I do have a quick appt with the vet scheduled, so that will shed plenty of light on him....

I appreciate all the help!
Hunter

Sounds good, I don't think there is anything to worry about. The vet check is always a good idea, and you may learn a thing or too during the exam.

A quick note though; I'd hesitate to ever be too comfortable with my husbandry. No one has a perfect setup (although sometimes it seems we may get close) and we are always learning about new fasciates to improve upon. In the vet industry, we avoid "Is your husbandry adequate" and instead use "how can your husbandry be improved". The advances in vet med. and husbandry go hand-in-hand.

Most vets do not know that when you give a tortoise an injection of vitamins, they will more than likely slough off thick portions of skin on their neck and or legs anywhere from 2 to 6 months later. This can range from looking like a small burn to sloughing all the way down to the muscle, depending on the tort and amount of vitamin injected. Since this happens month's later, it is rarely associated with the shot. You said that your tort had an URI, check with the vet and see if he was given a vitamin shot.
some slight shedding is normal to all tort's. If you can post a pic, it might help. Good luck

Can you reference your data please

He was given a Vit B complex with the URI as well as amikacin. good call!

Hunter

The condition that Sonodog described is usually caused by a massive overdose of vitamin A injections. As common a practice as giving vitamin A shots is I assume that this kind of overdose does not usually occur if you consider the number of times you see this condition posted to as many tortoises which have probably been treated in this manner. I know I've had many turtles treated with a vitamin A shot and this has never occured in my experience.

I've never heard this happening with vitamin B shots (which is currently in vogue with vets).

On the vitamin A overdose the skin does not flake... it soughs and I think your posts would have had a little more frantic style. It does look very nasty when this happens.

>>He was given a Vit B complex with the URI as well as amikacin. good call!
>>
>>Hunter
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

The references I have I think are the Douglas Mader book on reptile medicine and there was a vet book that was so big it came out in 2 volumes. For some reason, I can't remember his name (EJ, help me out here) It was thee book on reptile diseases about 10 years ago. He was from the California bay area and he is retired now. I used to talk to him all the time. He had some good graphic pics of vitamin skin sloughing in it. It looked like full thickness burns. I have probably seen it at least 8 or 9 times over a 13 year period of Vet tech work with exotics.

Dr. Fedric Frye is the name you are looking for. From what you've seen you can understand my clarification. I would think the original poster would have been a little more frantic had it been that kind of flaking which would not be described as flaking but as peeling. Like you said the skin comes off in sheets. Not a pretty sight.

>>The references I have I think are the Douglas Mader book on reptile medicine and there was a vet book that was so big it came out in 2 volumes. For some reason, I can't remember his name (EJ, help me out here) It was thee book on reptile diseases about 10 years ago. He was from the California bay area and he is retired now. I used to talk to him all the time. He had some good graphic pics of vitamin skin sloughing in it. It looked like full thickness burns. I have probably seen it at least 8 or 9 times over a 13 year period of Vet tech work with exotics.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

This is interesting. I"ll make sure to follow up with clients that have/will recieve vitamin injections.

I discussed this with my continuing education teacher (Basic Repitile Medicine, Veterinary Information Network) and she had said that perhaps it was from one of two things
1)lack of peripheral circulation ie, the leg was immobilized for some reason (like a cast), or husbandry wasn't up to par, specifically temperature... any other reasons that circulation may be compromised.

2)some injectables are made specifically for intravenous usage and do cause necrotic lesions if outside of the circulatory system. While many drugs are routinely used "off-label", perhaps there are vitamin preparations that do cause this reaction.

It is difficult to explain why it would take 2-6 months post injection to slough the skin. 2 months maybe, but 6 months would surely be related to inadequate husbandry, since any necrotic process would have normally finished in this time period. Cool temps delay everything.

took him in to the vet for a quick visit...he said he was just growing like a weed...and is healthy as a horse, or a tortoise so good news

thanks to all!
Hunter