Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a Ally last October. I tryed to pick the most active, and largest of the lot. The one I picked had a tail oddity. It is not a pig-tail, but the tail had/has a twist in it at the tip. I almost didnt pick it becouse of this, but it stood out from the rest becouse of it's size, and being very active. Well, 10 months later, and it's tail still has a twist at the tip, there is a 1/8th inch part of the tip that points up. It really isnt noticable unless you really look. One other thing though. The two middle scutts in the middle row are not raised up as much as the others. Other than that it is normal. Is it common for minor shell, and tail abnormalitys?
It is healthy in every way that I can tell. Shell is hard. Growing faster than any other turtle I have kept. It is 9 inches from snout to tail in 10 months. (this makes me think it may be a male)
Any input from experianced Ally keepers is appretiated.
Doug

hey doug- my 150lber has the same thing on his tail,the last inch or so is kinked upward. dont know he broke it or he hatched out like that. on the two middle scutes are you talking bout the tail or shell? the ridges on their shell will change as he grows.if he is alot bigger than the other hatchlings chances or good he is a male but you cant tell for sure untill his shell is about 14".goodluck

Thanks for the reply Steve. I am talking about the middle row of shell scutts. The two middle scutts of the middle row on the shell have not raised up very much. The points are well defined, just not as tall as the others. They may "catch-up" but, the pic's of other folks Ally's all look semetrical, and even from the start.
I feed him pinky mice every week to help him get natural calcium. I also have a 8.0 UVB florecent on him.
Doug

Hello Doug- i've seen alot adult alli snappers at zoos and pictures of them and noticed there is alot of variation in the ridges on their shells. i would expect it would be the same for hatchlings. your snappers' shell will become more uniform as he grows.