Urgent Care :: what to do, what to do

[blackforce247]

my turtles shell is growing. notice that the shell is stretching. do i peel that old skin part off or do i leave it on, because i dont want to peel it off finding out that the shell will break showing its stuff you know

oh heres a link of how the shell looks and the old shelling on it



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... lider2.JPG

[Vtolds]

Dont pull anything off your turtle it can do more harm than good. Just let it naturally fall off and your turtle will be fine.

[blackforce247]

oh ok then. ive been hearing people saying chopping off this and chipping off that so, i was just wondering. thank you i suggest its good i leave it on there then and let nature do its course in life

[grey goose]

If you are talking about the light color around the edges, thats just new growth. He's just a baby so he won't be shedding for a while.
I agree with Vtolds, when he does begin to shed, don't pick at it or try to force them to come off.......

[blackforce247]

ya ill leave them alone. is it ok if i use a toothbrush to brush some of the algae off when i change the water about once a month? or is ist safer to use a sponge?

[Bascomb]

BF247 -- Pleased leave the skin and scutes alone. They should come off naturally. If you try and help it along you could cause some bleeding and consequently cause infection. The only thing that you can do is make sure he is getting dried off during basking and is fed properly.

[blackforce247]

ya i guess. ill leave it alone. theres alot of stretch marks on the shell which got me concerned. ya i know it causes infections and all since i have all these chemicals in the water to get rid of the chlorine algae and all. and plus it happens to humans too u get a cut you can get an infection as well. i guess its the same. turtles are your kids. i understand that now ill leave them alone untill theres more rapid growth after the year i had it

[steve]

blackforce247, you need to not overact to everything. If you follow the guidelines, then you're doing good.

Make sure you post in the appropriate forum and resize your avatar so it's no greater than 100x100 or it will be deleted.

[blackforce247]

oh ok that helps ill delete it asap. ty for the tip and ill delete it