Urgent Care :: should I run to the vet ?

[animal_lady]

I just got these turtles - they have gone from so so conditions to a very nice pond to a big tub with a filter. I brought them in because it was getting cold.
From reading the health section it looks like it may be shedding or a fungus. It is a clear and white thick looking stuff coming from the front.
I am still trying to get their tank established so nothing is the way it should be yet. I have only had them in this tub for about a week. One is fine the other has this stuff coming out from the shell. They are eating ok.
They love to eat lettuce.
Should I go to the vet.
It is not on his shell.
What do you think this is ?

[industrial_girl_2000]

Can you post a picture?

[SpotsMama]

A picture would be most helpful.

If you're not able to post a picture, would you try describing it again? I need more help understanding the situation. Is it something oozing from underneath the shell? Is it something on her skin? Is it whispy looking and only visible in the water or is it a coating that's very obvious both in the water and out of it? Is the white stuff on the turtle's shell or skin?

[megcornell]

If it's a stringy membrane hanging from the neck area when they're in the water that's most likely normal skin shedding. If it is cottony looking when they are on land that's abnormal- you shouldn't be able to see normal shedding when a turtle is dry.
Pictures would be helpful to tell for sure.

[animal_lady]

I just figured out how to post and it does show up in this picture.
It is very large but it is the only way for you to see it.


I don't see it here but it worked in the gallery - please look there if you cannot open this pic

[megcornell]

Since she's wet in the picture I'm not sure but it looks like a fungus to me.
You're concerned about the spots near her neck and not the spots on her shell correct?
You should buy a sulfa dip at the petstore - they are easy to use and pretty effective so see if that clears it up.
You may want to start looking for a herp vet in case the fungus persists or if you want to have the turtle looked at anyway.

[animal_lady]

This stuff seems to come and go. They are basking now and look very good. I put a dr turtle tab in the water and seems to have helped.
It seems to have gone away for now.

[megcornell]

Well that sounds promising, keep an eye on her and if things get worse, contact a vet.
It'd be a good idea to start looking for a local herp vet now, you never know when you'll need one and a good herp vet can be tough to find.

[SpotsMama]

The Turtle Sulfa Dip (made by zoo med) is a much stronger product than the dr turtle blocks that disolve in the aquarium. It comes in a blue box. If you see anything suspicious again, why don't you give it a try. I agree with Meg, it's likely that it's a skin fungus of some sort.

You should ask yourself why your turtle has this problem. If it's a fungus, it's probably caused by poor water quality. Did the water in the pond look and smell fresh? What about the water in his aquarium? Also, even if water looks clean there can be a buildup of harmful chemicals - ammonia and nitrites - if the bio filter isn't working well. You can tell if these chemicals are present in the water by testing it. A lot of pet stores will test water for you for free, or you can buy a test kit (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals makes good ones for freshwater tests) and do it yourself at home. You might also take a look at ph since high ph is friendly to fungus and if your ph is well above 8 think about bringing it down some.

[industrial_girl_2000]

If you are talking about the thin filmy stuff around the top of the turtle's neck, it looks like shedding skin to me. Since this turtle is new, a sulfa dip wouldn't be a bad idea.

Other than that, his eyes & skin on his face look very healthy & clear.