Urgent Care :: Something sticking out of my turtle's plastron - Help!

[iramm21]

Help! I am new to owning turtles and bought two together a month ago. They are in a 96 litre tank, with a basking site, cuttle fish, plants to eat, uvb lighting, heater, fluval canister 405 filter etc... I noticed today that the smaller of the turtles had a small, circular nodule on its plastron. Was concerned and had made an apt to see the vet on monday, but when i lifted her up to take a pic, the nodule came off, and there is a small hole in her shell. I am really really concerned as this wasnt the case yesterday. I have checked the other turtle and she appears fine. Both are eating well, swimming a lot, no white spots, no smell, healthy looking eyes, breathing seems fine, and they both enjoy basking too... is this anything to be worried about? Or should i get it checked immediately?

[marisa]

Welcome to the forum. How large is the turtle? How deep is the hole in the shell? Can you post a pic of the area when the shell is dry? If the turtle is a really small hatchling, I'm thinking what came off is the remmnant of the egg sac, which would be about 3/4th of the way down the center seam/line in the shell. If the turtle is a few inches, for example, or if the nodule was located elsewhere, it would definitely be something else.

Since you're really concerned and you already have a (herp?) vet appointment, I'd keep it. In the meantime, keep the water clean and make sure the turtle has ample opportunity to bask under heat and UVB lights.

You have a 96 liter tank with a Fluval 405 canister filter? That sounds like a rather powerful filter for a tank that size...

[iramm21]

http://photo.ringo.com/223/223216823O746232669.jpg

http://photo.ringo.com/223/223216859O039397615.jpg

http://photo.ringo.com/223/223216853O327760709.jpg

Ok i hope that they are posting on here. Yes the apt is with a herp vet. The cater is being changed once every four days, even though it always looks and smells clean - i'm also adding the right amount of aquasafe, turtle clean, and stayclear in, to ensure it is healthy. The whole is tiny - about 1mm x 1mm x 1mm. i cant see any internal organs, just shell... has this happened to anyone else? Thanks for your advice Marisa!

[iramm21]

the filter is powerful, but is contained to prevent any damage to the turtles - it also helps to keep the tank cleaner, i've found. But the plan is, to get a much larger tank in a year

[marisa]

This is a YBS (Yellow-Bellied Slider)? The hole is in the general area where the egg sac would have been, but the picture isn't all that clear. You didn't notice anything there when you got the turtle? I've cared for turtles with some of their egg sacs on them but the sac was pretty much absorbed, not just fell off.

To me, it looks like it could have been the egg sac, especially if the turtle is really small, but it's good to err on the side of caution, I think, and have it looked at. If there's any opening at all, you don't want bacteria to enter and cause an infection, which can kill a hatchling (I'm not trying to worry you, just trying to be cautious here).

Those are a lot of products to be adding to the water (I'm not a fan of adding anything unless it's absolutely necessary). Do you have a filter (didn't really notice one in the pic unless it's that object on the right)? That's a lot of gravel to remove if you clean every 4 days---it would be better to remove it. Gravel traps debris (and therefore bacteria) and at some point your turtles may try to eat it (and there's a chance it could become impacted in them).

[iramm21]

thank you for your advice i feel a lot more relaxed - but will definately take them both to the vet to ensure that they are ok. Yes they are both YBS's - lovely creatures! there was nothing there on her underside when i got her. The filter is an external canister one, and it has been great. i have removed and rinsed out the gravel every time i have cleaned out the tank, but i appreciate your comments about ingestion problems. However, would you suggest any other substrate, or should i leave it empty?
Thank you again!

[megcornell]

Some people add a few large river rocks, they also trap debris, but not as much, and they don't pose as a choking/impaction problem. It's also okay just to have a bare bottom to your tank, the turtles don't mind, it's all about the level of mess you're comfortable with keeping up with . A few brave people have tried to add sand but most times it just clouds up the water and is more trouble than it is worth.
It looks like you've got a nice set up started there by the way.

[iramm21]

thanks! but it's just temporary until i get a 250 gallon tank- i cant wait!

[marisa]

Silly me, you did mention the filter in your initial post. What's the current like with it in a tank that size? Since the nodule wasn't there when you got them, skip the egg sac theory. I'm wondering if the current is strong, if somehow the turtle couldn't have gotten pushed against the gravel and a sharp piece of it was pushed into the plastron a little, if the plastron is still a little soft there...

You don't really need substrate to cover the whole bottom. Some smooth river rocks scattered on the bottom would be fine. You could put a piece of aquarium background under the tank to give the illusion of the bottom having something there.