Urgent Care :: Puffy eyes, WHITE PATCHES on back (photos)

[josephchyu]

Hey folks,

I understand that there have been other fungal posts in this forum, but I wanted to post photos of my turtle's shell before proceeding to follow the advice on other pages. My turtle is sick. It's eyes are puffy and it has difficulty opening them. There are white cotton patches on its back. I should've noticed it when I first bought them, but I thought nothing of the white patches. The white patches were there when I bought this turtle 2 weeks ago.

What I am currently doing: I'm keeping this turtle in quarantine in a small bucket. The quarantine water has been conditioned with reptisafe, and it is kept directly under the basking light to keep warm. Once a day I am putting Zoomed eye drops in both eyes (as described to do for 7 days on the box), and twice a day I am rubbing the turtle's shell with iodine-free salt. I have also added a little bit of salt to the water. I think the drops have improved the swelling in the eyes.

It has been a few days, and the shell doesn't seem to be getting better. Oddly though, in the morning when I check on it, none of the white patches are visible. After I brush it with salt and put it back into the water, that is when the white patches show up again. So it disappears during night, and reappears when I brush it and dunk it in the water.

I guess my main question is: WHAT IS IT!? and What should I do? Should I keep at it (salt brushing, basking)? Or is there anything else anyone recommends? I am very concerned about my turtle, and hope it doesn't die. Betadine? Iodine? Salt? anything!! Photos below-

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How big is your turtle? 1.5 inches
How long have you had it? 2 weeks

What is the water temperature? 76 F
Did you use a thermometer? Yes
Are you using a water heater? Yes
How much water is in there? 10 gallon tank, 5 gallons water
Are you using a water conditioner? yes
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? ~90 F
Is there a basking light? Yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? Zoomed floating dock
Is there a UVB light? Yes

What have you been trying to feed it? mainly Nutrafin basix, fed one round of crickets and feeder guppies
When was the last time your turtle ate? last night

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 10 gallons
Is the tank near a window? no
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? no

Have you read the Basic Care section? yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? puffy eyes, white cotton patches


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dry


dry


wet


eyes


eyes

Please, anyone, help.

[SpotsMama]

Hi there. Your turtle is very adorable. So tiny.

Looks like his eyes are coming along well.

You can stop rubbing the shell with salt. A little salt in the water is good. Are you using aquarium salt? Table salt, even iodine free, is likely to have additives that your turtle doesn't need. Aquarium salt is the right type for your turtle's water. Don't exceed the amount in the water for a freshwater habitat.

On the white patches - you say they are cottony. Do you mean they are raised and have a fuzzy feel? Or is it that they look fuzzy and white like cotton but the shell actually feels smooth and hard?

[josephchyu]

On the white patches - you say they are cottony. Do you mean they are raised and have a fuzzy feel? Or is it that they look fuzzy and white like cotton but the shell actually feels smooth and hard?

It is not raised- it is completely smooth. They look fuzzy and white like cotton, but the shell actually feels smooth and hard. It is deceptive-

[SpotsMama]

It's probably a shell fungus, something that's in the shell or just beneath the surface, but before you try to treat it, I have one more question.

You say in the morning, the white patches have dissappeared and they don't re-appear until you treat them. What if you just never treat them? Will they stay invisible?

[josephchyu]

I do not know if they stay invisible. I will try that tonight and let you know. But if in the morning the fungus (or whatever it is) is not visible, and I let it bask, when it dries the fungus is still invisible.

[SpotsMama]

In your last sentence, are you meaning to say that when the turtle dries out the white is always visible?