hi i hope you can help me my sons torts shell are a bit dry is it because i have been washing then with tap water as someone said to me today you have to bole cool water AL the time?

Get a bowl of warm water ( bolied ) temp is that you would use for a baby to bath in ....not to much water just enough for the tortie to stand in i usually do it so he can just lower his head in to it for a drink.
get an old toothbrush and gently wash the shell this will help the shell breath

I place mine in water that comes upto the junction between the carapace and plastron. Lukewarm water and just splash a bit over the top and then leave them to soak for 20 minutes or so. You can use a soft toothbrush if you feel any dirt needs removing. What do you mean by dry? It's suppose to be dry.

Jason

i do not know how to describe but its like dry skin look and withdrawn of moisture hope ive described this the way i mean

So is the skin or the shell like this? How are you keeping it? It may be that your hot spot is too hot.

Jason

we sometimes use a cloth with olive oil on to make the shell look better after a warm bath..
to be honest they are supposed to have a dry looking shell.. so dont worry too much as long as your feeding the correct diet..

this may be of interest for you..
British Chelonia Group: Security Advice

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hi thanks i put a little of my horses hoof oil on there shell and it look much better and there seem to be good eating and sleeping and injoying the sun when it is out cool:

please dont put anything other than plain old water on your tortoises shell. There shell has tiny pores which oils and the like block. You could cause infection and alter the efficency of the shells solar power by putting oil on them. Just think about who puts oil on there shells in the wild.

Jason

Our tortoise is gone 40 yrs old with no ill effectrolleyes:
I guess its ok occasionally as previously said

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Nothing other than water should go on a tortoise's shell, it changes how the heat warms them up.