Urgent Care :: Dilute betadine?

[Hollybear]

How big is your turtle? They are under 2 inches long
How long have you had it? 2 weeks

What is the water temperature? 80
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? about 7 gallons (10 gallon tank)
Are you using a water conditioner? no
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? around 90
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? the floating one that attaches to the wall.
Is there a UVB light? yes

What have you been trying to feed it? pellets, and red lettuce
When was the last time your turtle ate? yesterday evening

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

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

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? one will not bask, the other only wants to bask.



I got them at a pet store. I can't take them to the vet til Payday, and they have white spots on them. I have been told its fungus, I took them to the store I bought them at. The man there said that I should use a solution of betadine and water, soak them for 15 minutes, let them dry then put neosporin on them and let them dry more. However he said he could not remember the exact ratio of betadine to water. Does anyone know what the ratio is?

[marisa]

The spots are on the skin or shell (you didn't say). You might look here for some info http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/medshell.htm

If I were to use diluted Betadine, I would only apply it to the affected areas, not soak a turtle completely in it.

Do you have a pic of your turtles and their spots?

How big are they? A 10-gallon tank is really not big enough for two turtles, even if they are small hatchlings. Water quality can become an issue fairly quickly and poor water quality can lead to fungus and other healthy problems.

[Hollybear]

One is an inch long the other is an inch and a half long. We will be getting a 75 gallon tank in about about a month. The spots are on the shells, and I will take pictures tomorrow when they are not covered for the night.

[eugenetimpog]

The one that always bask. Can she swim normally ( can swim underwater ) or just float or have difficulty in submerging?

When I added a new turtle a year ago. The new turtle always bask and just floats on water. She had an RI(respiratory infection). Watch out for this symptoms.

[mikee]

Hol-bear – I also would not soak the whole turtle in betadine. I would “dob” the area with betadine and dilute it very little. Your problem is husbandry that the turtles were in before you got them. If your turtles do have a fungus they need clean water and water temp at 80 and the basking light at 90 to 92 degrees. Uvb is a must. If you have time I would dry dock them 4 to 6 hours twice a day with the betadine. Fungus does not do well dry. Your vet may put them on a sulfa dip

[Hollybear]

The little one (Lola) likes to bask more than swim, but she does go all the way to the bottow and swims around. I think she basks so much in hopes that is she is still she is invisible. She seems to eat more than Charlie.

I am not exactly sure what all the symptoms of a respitory infection are. I have noticed that she has a hard time staying down if she gets too close to the air stone.

I completely emptied and disinfected the tank yesterday so of course its cloudy. Happenes every time. I am feeding them in a seperate container since I have to take them out so uch anyway right now. But it does help keep the water cleaner.

The big one (Charlie) hangs out on the bottom and is afraid of us. Though I imagine me swabbing him with betadine and setting him in a box with a towel and the uvb lamp doesn't help. He was basking this morning, so maybe he is just more skittish than Lola. They are eating right now, so I will take pictures of them in a bit.

[steve]

Hi Hollybear, when you post pictures, try to take them when the shell is dry. Fungal issues are not uncommon with pet store turts.

[Hollybear]

Here is a picture of Lola when she is dry. I have a hard time getting a good picture, but this is the best I could get. They both have these spots, Lola just has a lot more. (she is the smaller one of the two). What do you guys think?

[SpotsMama]

Looks like shell fungus. The very best treatment for it is a salve called Sulfadyne (silver sulfadiazine or SSD cream). You have to get it from a vet - it's prescription only. Here's how I would treat it. Dab some dilute betadine on the spots then let the shells dry off completely. When they are completely dry rub some of the SSD cream into the spots and keep the turtles dry for a couple more hours before putting them back into the tank. Repeat daily for 10 days or until the spots have completely disappeared.

[marisa]

Hollybear, did you look at that link and read about a recommended treatment for fungus?

[steve]

Are those spots spreading? Do they feel soft? Do they have an odor?

[Hollybear]

They do not have any smell at all, they don't seem to be spreading. Looks like she has some scutes shedding as well now. They are not soft at all.

I am, however, and idiot. She is shedding some skin on her eyelids and I thoght fungus was getting on them so I touche it. She jerked away so fast and then I realized it was just dead skin.

She is also starting to swim more. And the other one seems to be adjusting enough that he will bask, but he is shy and if he sees us he jumps into the water. Thats pretty normal I think.

I called the vets in this area and the herp vets said they don't work with suck little turtles. One actually said I could bring them n and she would look at them for 100 dollars, but she will not treat them for anything. Needless to say I will NOT EVER go to that vet.

Do any of you have any ideas on what else I can do for the shell? I can't get that cream over the counter, and the vets will not help us. I feel like a horrible person, maybe they would have been better if I had left them there at the pet store. AT least they know something about how to handle things that come up.

[SpotsMama]

See if the vets will sell you a little of the cream without treating your turtle. Let us know if they will or will not.

[megcornell]

What about your cats' vet? Even if they aren't a herp vet, hopefully you've established enough of a relationship with them through the cats that they could get you some SSD cream. Although it would be preferable to have a real herp vet examine the shells and figure out exactly what the issue is.
Some vets really are very finicky about the reptiles they will treat... it makes me wonder why they become vets in the first place.

[Hollybear]

We just moved here. We don't have a vet for the cats yet. The herp vet told me that she would no do anything at all for them. I even tried to call vets in the surrounding towns and no luck as of yet. I am really irritaed with all vets right now. I don't know what to do. Maybe I could order it from the internet somewhere...