Urgent Care :: a spot on Samson

[octpusgirl8]

Hey everybody, long time no see! I've been crazy busy and haven't had much free time for internet amusement. I've missed all the turtle talking though. Anyway, i wish i was posting here under happier circumstances, but i'm afraid that's not the case.

The problem:
I noticed this afternoon a red spot in the crevice between Samson's leg and neck. It's about a quarter inch in diameter, circular, and kind of raw looking. It doesn't look like a fresh wound, it looks more like a canker sore. I tried taking pictures, but none came out decently. I'll try again later tonight after he chills out a bit. He's acting like a normal happy turtle, he's very active, hungry, etc. It's a relatively new thing, but it's possible it's been there a few days, it's in a pretty out of the way spot.

Obviously i'll take him to the vet if i have to, but i'd like to avoid it if at all possible. Does anybody have any ideas about what it could be, or what i might be able to do about it?

I don't have time right now to fill out the whole question thing, but here's a summary of Samson's digs:
75 gal tank, 3/4 of the way full. Magnum 350 filter, 6 month old MVB. Good basking area (he's a champion basker), water temp in the low to mid 70s. I've had him since last summer, i adopted him as a fully grown turtle.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Have you looked into anything abrasive in the tank that could have scratched him, or given him rug burns? That sounds like the most obvious answer. I'd apply some antibiotic ointment to the wound, let it dry, and do that for awhile until it looks better. And make sure to find what's scratching him.

[octpusgirl8]

I thought about that, but it's in such an out of the way place, not somewhere i could picture something rubbing. Here's the best picture i could get, it's super blurry but at least it gives an idea of where it is and how big it is.



He was super mad about his photo session!

[TheComputerGremlin]

Wow, that's really noticeable! It almost looks like he stabbed himself with like a skewer or something. I'd check out the tank, just to be sure. I'd also double check the filter, as it could be like a suction mark or something as well. And I'd still apply the antibiotic cream. I'm not sure if a vet is in order, as they'll say the same things like check the tank. I guess it could be a parasite or fungus or something, but if it was, I'd expect more of the sores to pop up, and he'd be probably acting lethargic or ill.

[SpotsMama]

I agree with TheComputerGremlin - looks like he's run into something, maybe when diving off his basking platform. In addition to the antibiotic salve, keep his water extra clean while it heals.

[marisa]

The pic isn't that clear, but it looks like a pimple to me...Is the skin broken at all (the surface looks shiny)? If not, I'd keep it clean and watch it to see if a head forms.

[steve]

How long has it been noticeable? If the skin is broken, I would try a little dry docking and ointment.

[octpusgirl8]

I know the picture sucks; i hate posting a picture like that and asking for advice but it's the best i could do. I noticed it just yesterday, but it could have been there a day or two before that, i've been so busy that the last couple of days i didn't have time for any interaction with them, just throwing in some food. Diving off the basking dock is the only thing i can think of that could have injured him, i moved the tree root decoration over to the other side of the tank. I'm sure he'll move it back soon though I did a major water change and cleaned the filter. I also put some neosporin on it and left him out of the water for about a half hour tonight, does that sound good? Is once a day enough? It doesn't look like a pimple, but it doesn't look like a gouge either. It does look like it could have been a gouge that closed up maybe, i don't know. It's weird and i'm worried. If it doesn't start to look better in the next week i'll take him to the vet, and i totally can't afford it. I'm just hoping it'll clear up soon.

[steve]

I tend to dry dock overnight. Are your boys kept apart? It's real hard to know what it is but the occasional marks that I've seen on my RES usually clear up quickly.

[SpotsMama]

I agree with Steve. It looks like something that will clear up pretty fast in a healthy RES.

Spot does the oddest thing. He's done it consistently for several years, so I don't think what I'm seeing is coincidental. He moves the hard decorations in his tank to the far end away from his basking platform. He moves the soft things to underneath the platform. I think he doesn't like diving in and maybe hitting something hard so he pushes hard things far away. I'm not sure why he puts the soft things underneath his platform, but then I'm not a turtle.

[octpusgirl8]

Turtley and Samson don't live together. When I was moving I put them in the same tank for a couple minutes while I filled the other tank, and Turtley immediately bit Samson's tail, so that was the end of my dreams for a beautiful turtle friendship. Samson likes to rearrange his tank too, but for whatever reason he seems to like the big hard plastic decoration right in the landing area under his dock. I'd take it out, but Catfish lives under there and he'd be lost without it. I'll keep up with the drydocking and neosporin and see how it goes. You guys have made me feel a lot better, I was totally freaking out for a while!

[bradmeisel]

I wish Sampson the best. Keep us posted

[octpusgirl8]

The spot is definitely starting to heal up, it's smaller and less red than a few days ago. Thank you all for your advice and well wishes

[bradmeisel]

i am glad to hear

[moldygrape]

is it gone? i wish u the best!