Urgent Care :: reddish plastron, missing nails

[Azfar]

Hello everyone there.. I'm quite new here... actually I have some problems regards to my turtle.. He is Totto and 1 and half years old... I've read about Septicemia.. or the red line at the scutes.. but mine happen at his plastron.. Here I show some pictures.. I'm so worried.. is it internal bleeding or septicemia.. ? or because from what he eat?



..different angle to look more clear..


And another problem also.. Totti had this fungus since he was baby and he lost his nails too.. I already bring him to the vet and vet said that this is fungus and he just put iodine to kill it but then till now even Totti grows big.. seems like his nail won't come out anymore..

But Totti doing fine and get used to it without having a claws like others male turtle have.. at least he have claws at right leg.. hehe.. I wanna know.. is it ok my Totti to live like this?? emm.. is it treatable? and can the nails grows back if I bring Totti back to see the vet and cured it ?

Here a pictures of Totti left legs..



.. different angle.. Totti juz wake up when I took his picture..



I hope anyone can give me some idea what happen to my Totti n Totti

[TheComputerGremlin]

Wow, I've never seen anything like that. From my amateur opinion, I'd say that the claws may never grow back, though I'd watch to make sure they aren't growing under the skin, probably just an X ray can tell you that.

Also, your Totti has some pretty severe pyramiding. I don't know what you are feeding him, but he's taking in too much protein. Since he is over a year old, he should be getting a head sized portion of pellets every OTHER day and given veggies, esp lettuce, every day. If the pyramiding continues, it can lead to many other problems, fatty liver, trouble breathing and eating, etc.

[steve]

[I split this from another topic]

I'm not certain what is wrong with his plastron. Could it be an injury from those abrasive rocks?

Did Totti lose those nails from the fungus? I haven't heard of anything like that before. How long ago did he lose those nails? If the nail beds are gone the nails won't grow back.

[Azfar]

Yeah Totti lose his nails from 'something' like fungus i think because that 'thing' like eating his nail when he was baby.. But then I'm not so sure la. Maybe about his nails i'm not worry too much... because he still can use another legs/hand.. hehe..


But then now I'm worried of his pyramiding.. I neva tot dat serious thing such pyramiding. Cuz Totti is big n maybe one of the unique design of his shell.. hehe.. can he die because of pyramiding or over feed??

I never give any other types of food to my turtles.. the only one is pellet.. When I give some vegie or fruit.. they won't eat.. they ignore it.. they just eat their pellet only..

I'll attach some picture of their food products and oso another picture of my turtles.. thank you for you help.. ~ Gremlin n Steve..

[SpotsMama]

The red on his plastron does look like injury or infection from the abrasive basking rocks. It needs to be treated so it doesn't become seriously infected and develop into septicemia. The basking rocks need to be replaced with something softer - like cork bark or a Zoo Med turtle dock. This needs attention right away.

On the pyramiding, yes I see it too. Pyramiding is caused by dietary imbalances and it can result in death. Your turtles need variety in their diets, a lot of calcium, regulate the quantity of pellets they eat and they need to bask under good UVB light (UVB light enables a turtle's body to metabolize calcium - otherwise it's wasted). Often turtles are slow to catch on that veggies are good but once they get the idea, they love them. You need to be the turtle-parent and keep encouraging them to eat their veggies and soon you'll see their behavior change.

On the nails, I get the impression that it's progressive - that slowly over time it's getting worse and worse. If that's what's happening, then where will it end? I think it's essential that it be treated so that it doesn't keep spreading and spreading.

Ask your vet's advice on how to treat the injuries to the plastron. If you're not clear after talking to the vet, come back here and we can give you some advice.

On diet, here are some good guidelines. If you follow these the pyramiding won't get any worse though you'll probably see the effects of it for years to come. Included in these guidelines are tips on how to entice a turtle to eat veggies.

http://www.redearslider.com/index_nutrition.html

Why don't you read through the other sections on this site on taking care of your turtles. There is a ton of good info from people who have had years of good experience as turtle keepers. If you find something that's not clear, come back here and ask questions and we'll try to help.

[marisa]

Has a part of the scute shed or somehow come off where the reddish area is? Is the area soft at all? It looks a little like a bruise to me, especially since he has that abrasive rock to lay on. If the rest of the scutes on the plastron came off before they were meant to, I'm thinking that the blotches would look more like that area. If your turtle had septicemia, you'd see red in the seam and on the skin.

The nails on the paw look like they were injured and got infected. Was he in with other turtles and perhaps got bitten? If the nail beds aren't there, the nails won't grow back.

Your turtle needs a better basking area. He's got a very nice-looking face, btw.

[Azfar]

Thank you SpotsMama n Marisa.. I'm really worried about my turtles.. aiyark.. I thought my turtle is healthy.. seems have serious problem.

Actually I don't have a tank to have a UVB lights. I place my turtle at house porch in a 3 years kiddie pool.. But with good environment where near my dad's landscape and also good light from the sun.. Is it enough just to have the light of the sun for basking? Not directly, they still covered by my house roof..

Regards to the pyramiding, I will try to change my turtle diet, perhaps he will adapt the changes of his diet.. I'll read more on the section nutrition..

Here I have picture of my turtles pellet, i typed the ingredients as well the guaranteed analysis state of the product. By looking at the level of protein, I think the pellet is not good

[Azfar]

Owh ya, actually there are mistakes of my turtle pictures previously.. all 4 pictures is TOTTO (male). It is a same turtle which have dat bruise at his plastron and nails problem.. My TOTTI is a female.
(I ask my brother to edit those picture, maybe he can't differentiate my turtle so he just put their name whatever he think.. I didn't notice it when he already upload the picture hehe..)

Today I'm gonna buy or get any soft rock and soft wood for my turtle.

Here I attach their pictures.. Totti a bit small than Totto..

This is Totti.. is she look healthy?


and this is Totto.. the sick one .. poor Totto


..loving couple.. ihiks~!

[SpotsMama]

They really are lovely - very colorful.

As long as you are looking at basking areas for your turtles, here's a link with some good examples of different types, including some made of cork bark. If you use bark (and it works very well - turtles feel at home on it), be sure and get some that's never been chemically treated. Also, it should be wood that holds up well in water. Cork bark is ideal and it's very buoyant as well so the turtles won't sink it. However, if you can't find cork bark or good driftwood, you could make your own platform from plastic materials. I think there are some examples on the link and if you want to hear from people who've built their own platforms, just say so and they will be happy to share their experiences with you.

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15260

On the light, if they are able to bask in direct sunshine for an hour a day that will be fine. In fact, no light bulb is as good as natural sunshine. And where you live, I would think the quality of sunshine is very good. Are your turtles pretty good baskers? They do need to dry off completely just about every day. When the weather's sunny a turtle living outside will bask for a large part of every day.

Your brand of turtle pellets is a reputable brand. Your turtles should be fine with it as long as they get their veggies (red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, occasional carrot, tomato, berries, sweet potato, bell pepper, etc.) and an occasional high protein treat like a worm or shrimp. Do they have cuttlebone to snack on? Cuttlebone is normally provided to caged birds but it's also an excellent source of calcium for turtles.

Pyramiding like Totti has is often thought to be caused by excessive protein in the diet, like too much meat or shrimp, or too many high protein pellets a day. Just be careful about the amount of protein he gets and be sure he gets a balanced diet including green leafy veggies.

[Azfar]

I already visit the link as your reference. Thank you.. theres a lot and pretty cool kind of basking areas people made. But I don't have a big tank to setup nice n cozy basking area for my turtles. I need to save up to buy a big tank one day for them.. hopefully.

By d way, I already throw away somewhat abrasive basking rock that hurts my Totto plastron.. I buy a driftwood at pet shop nearby my house.. Is it ok? cuz I already buy it and when I saw at the sticker price, state that is 'treated drift wood'.. aiyarrkk.. But my turtles already love it and bask on it...

I think I don't need rock at this while cuz the driftwood looks good and at the pet shop also sells 2 kind of rocks.. But I don't buy it because the rock is so rock and I'm scared if I buy another abrasive rock.. hehe.. they got Coral Rock and Fossil Rock. How bout dat? OK or not?

... the driftwood... I put some lettuce and green leafy vegie to teach them to eat new thing.. hehe.. as your advice Spotsmama.. Thank you


Simple setup of my turtles pool.. heee


..they seems so happy have this wood.. heeeee



I live at Kuala Lumpur City Suburb, Malaysia.. why?? Lately the weather here not so good, every evening will heavly raining. But my turtles will bask at sunshine morning.. 9-12pm like dat.. I'm not sure whether they are good basker.. Totto seems like to bask but Totti is a shy turtle.. when I come out to see them and saw she basking.. plupp.. she will jump into water.. never saw her properly basking.. always running and swimming around..

[res08]

What does your roof look like? Can you take a picture?

[Azfar]

This is where I place my turtles' pool.. hehehe..

You may see the bright site where the sunshine will give direct light to their basking area.. on the driftwood where they love to bask..



Totto already book his platform.. Totti is behind there on her way to bask..

[Azfar]

Spot the differences.. ?

This is Totto plastron after the reddish is healed, a week after I post the previous pictures and replaced the rock with driftwood.



Now Totto is doing fine.. yeay ~!!

[marisa]

That looks much better.