Box Turtle and Tortoise Discussion :: Soft Shell?

[notoch351]

Ok, I was just lightly wiping some dift off his under side (plastron) and noticed the upper half was extermly soft/flexable so I stopped, is this normal. is this the hidge sort-a thing? 3-toed box turtles can shut them selfs right? if so when?

Sorry I'm really worried. And kind of have no idea what I'm talking about because I can't find to much information on the subject.

[steve]

I'm not sure. There are a few keepers here, I'm sure they will direct you with the correct info when they see this.

[jenaero]

Is it the entire upper half that is soft? Or are you mistaking being able to move it? If you turn your turtle over, you will see a hinge not quite half way in the plastron. The shell should bend at that point, but nowhere else. The hinge runs from side to side between the front and back legs.

I don't know if that makes sense or not. It's kind of difficult to explain. I hope this helps.

[notoch351]

Yes, that makes sense. And thank you
I shouldn't have used the word soft its definitely just the hinge. I just never thought that it was almost 3 quarters of the underside I assumed it was long and thin and I wouldn’t be able to really move it. (Get what I’m saying?) Anyway, sorry for kind of over reacting and not really using my knowledge. No need to worry.

Quick question- when will he be able to fully retract in and shut himself? Or can he but I haven’t seen?

[Chrisbarnett]

He probably can, you just haven't seen. My 3-toed sleeps with her shell shut and all tucked in. If I pick her up in the morning or at night when she's sleeping, it takes her a bit to come out of hiding.

[briannashea]

yeah same thing with my old hinge shell tortoise...when I first got him I didn't know he could do that and then watched him for a while and realized he could shut his shell pretty tight.

[jenaero]

I can't get mine to close up anymore. He's pretty brave with people. Sometimes I'll catch him sleeping like that tho.