Urgent Care :: HELP!! Shell Skin Peel?

[marisa]

I'm aware you peeled off the top layer. In the future, let them come off by themselves.

[Nettle]

@hdaisog: do you mean on the shell or on the actual skin. If it's on the skin and looks like people-sunburn skin then that's normal. They shed that like everything else.

[hdaisog]

No, I mean on the shell. The little guy/girl that I am fostering starting shedding, but the pieces were not solid and were not scute shapped. The pieces coming off the shell where thin and whispy like skin. I took him to the vet and he said that it was probably shedding for the first time because it has been retaining scutes and the top layer of shell was so unhealthy that it was coming off like this. He said the shell underneath looks really good so his next shed should be normal.

This poor turtle was not given a basking area at all and only about an inch of cold water. Its diet consisted of rosy reds only. The vet also said that it could be some time before s/he reaches 4 inches. S/he is a little over 3 inches right now and 2-3 years old. The turtle's growth is very stunted.

[k9ck024]

ok, heres what happen to my turtle's shell after i peeled the top of the surface. first picture is the stuff on the surface shell. Second and third is what happen after i peeled it.

[TheComputerGremlin]

If those are the "after" pics, it looks like they'll be going through a shed soon. LET ALL OF THE SCUTES/SKIN COME OFF ON ITS OWN. Don't worry about it. Even if you feel that the turtle looks unattractive, let it go on its own. It looks like you peeled off a layer of the scutes, but the scutes still look like they're shedding. Let nature take its course.

[k9ck024]

If those are the "after" pics, it looks like they'll be going through a shed soon. LET ALL OF THE SCUTES/SKIN COME OFF ON ITS OWN. Don't worry about it. Even if you feel that the turtle looks unattractive, let it go on its own. It looks like you peeled off a layer of the scutes, but the scutes still look like they're shedding. Let nature take its course.

do you think the shells are dry?

[Blue Flamingo]

What do you mean??? Do you mean you think they are just dry and thats why they look like that?? If so dont use anythig like turtle-wax on them, it make it so the shell cant breath and will only hamper the shedding procces. No they look like that because the turtles are not done shedding.. My advice would be to just put them back in their tanks make sure they have a good basking area, good water quality, and leave them alone.

[Bascomb]

k9-24 -- DO NOT TOUCH THE SCUTES. IT DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD. You may expose raw skin or shell. Make sure he bask in proper lighting and proper heat. Nature will take care of the rest. Leave them alone.