Other Turtle Discussion :: turtle with extra scutes

[shannon_nicole]

this is my turtle, lisa:


She is awesome. But her shell is not normal... she has way too many scutes. I dunno if you guys can tell from the picture but her middle scutes are like cut in 2 and asymmetrical and all. Does anyone have experience with a turtle like this? It never bothered me before about her because I think she's awesome and perfect just the way she is, but then I realized that I don't really see other turtles looking like her and also her shell isn't really hardening as much as the other turtle, Bart. Even though I'm giving them both calcium supplements and uvb light and everything.

So... does anyone have anything to say about this? Is it serious?

[Starchick]

Extra scutes are no big deal. My guy Hercules has an extra row down his back and a bunch of little ones on the sides. It just happens sometimes, and has nothing to do with shell health. As far as the shell not hardening, I don't have much experience with that. It sounds like you're doing everything right, but maybe someone else will have some advice for you!

[eugenetimpog]

one of my turtle shell is like that.

this is bunsoy



Had her since she was a baby. She is 3.5" SCL now and so far she didn't have any problem with it.

[shannon_nicole]

woah our turtles match lol.
my picture has kind of bad lighting but yeah that's pretty much what she looks like..
well and she has some wierd black spots on her shell too, but I'm hoping it will go away when she grows?

I want my turtles shells to be pretty and smooth.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Nothing wrong with extra scutes. Nature makes them in all shapes & sizes.

Congrats on your little addition!

[marisa]

My RES has an extra vertebral scute and one of my painteds has an extra scute as well (he's been duly named Scute). I actually like the fact that the shells are different.

If you give your turtle a good habitat and diet, she should have a smooth shell. Some RES do develop darkened areas as they grow. A pic of your turtle's black spots would be good, though.

[shannon_nicole]

Okay here is pictures of her shell:



See the little black spots? And the middle of it looks kind of weird too.

Is this something I should be concerned about?

Oh and it doesn't really look that bad when it's dry..

[mikee]

Your turtle looks just fine. Some grow faster than others and sometimes the scutes seem to pile up. The other thing that you may consider, but is not likely, is MBD. That is metabolic bone disease. That only occurs if the turtle is short on proper light and calcium. I would suggest, if she is getting what she needs in that area, that you see to it that she bask longer and gets dried out during those times. If you are not sure, dry docking a couple of hour per day for a few days may make a difference. It is worth a try, Good Luck!!

[cage69]

Lisa looks awesome- the extra scutes make her more special and unique than normal!
I'm sure there's mothing wrong with that.

[Kyurois]

Ruari has a shell just like that, it's good that it just a unusual shell, I was a bit worried that he might have messed up organs or a extra rib because of it.

[iac637]

My Scuter has double the amount of scute a normal turtle have he also have a bad leg, a curly pig tail and, a cleft lip ( can't tell unless you really look) if you look at photo's I posted a while ago you can see his shell