Urgent Care :: Shell Rot/Jaw Rot??

[Rob Powers]

Couple of issues with my lil turtle (Lucy)! I got her about 5 weeks ago and introduced her to the 200 gallon pond out back with my other turtles (2 Painters). She was fine for about 2 weeks then stopped eating. I guessed it was cause of some cold nights... but don't really know. Either way I bought a 40 gallon aquarium tank for inside, did some research, and set it up.

Tank Top

Tank Front

IN the last week she is showing signs of Shell rot (while she sheds) and I seen online a site call it jaw rot, but unsure.

Top

Jaw issue

So I spent the last couple days reading and watching videos... I have been dry docking her for about an hour.. once a day.. and did perioxide for the last few days... once she was dry, I lightly covered her shell in Silvidene cream. But I wanted to make sure I nipped it in the butt and found a vet that looks at reptiles.. so i took her to see the vet.. haha, joke.. I knew more from watching and reading the INTERNET in the last few days so now I sit here scrolling the web again in hopes I can help this lil girl..I went to pick her up tonight and as you can see in the "bottom" photo she is missing a lil chunk of under belly.. So I figure I cant keep her in the water her damn shell softens up.. found a site that said dry dock her for 18 hours, then put her in clean water for 2 hours.. then dry dock again.. that seems long but what do I know... So I currently dry docked her with some lights... temp is about 80 in the basket as you can see..

Dry Dock

How big is your turtle? 6 inches long
How long have you had it? 5 weeks

What is the water temperature? 78 degrees
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? 20 gallons
Are you using a water conditioner? yes
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? 85
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? store bought prop
Is there a UVB light? yes

What have you been trying to feed it? pellets/bugs/tomatos
When was the last time your turtle ate? today

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 40 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? I have been all over the damn wed
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? yes.. found some help with shell rot... but not this jaw issue

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? she stays in the water.. alot

I am looking for any suggestions.. the next vet is about 90 mins away... so I think im on my own here...

[steve]

With shell rot, I wouldn't take any chances and go for the vet, especially if you know they are good. There is some serious shell rot on the plastron, and they usually don't look that severe, that quickly. As for the mouth rot (Stomatitis), it is also a bit rare for RES, so it should receive immediate treatment/antibiotics.

Did she have a lot of retained scutes?

[Rob Powers]

I know of no vets in Omaha.. I just figured it being such a larger market it would have a better vet... she is eating but stays in water alot. To be honest, I don't have means at this time for that option. The scutes are shedding and seem to shed better when I dry dock her. I docked her for two hours last night and am planning on dry docking 2 hours am and 2 hours pm right now. I don't wanna stress her out to much and she slept last night as she was sleeping when I went down to check this morning...

So my plan for now is dry dock twice daily for 2 hours..
When I pull her out proxied lightly the shell and infected areas.. dry for 30-40 then silvidine..

I'm sure taking her the 90 miles is the best option but I am being realistic with anyone who reads this.. I will take any advice on top of the plan I have in place..

Also, the shell rot on top looks worse in the photos because she is shedding.. under most shedding spots the shell is fine . She has to spot on top left.. and her under belly I see as issues..

[steve]

If anything, she should be dry docked as much as possible.

[Rob Powers]

Ok... so dry dock her for longer then 2 hours? I can dry dock her as long as we need to. Just looking for any direction.

[Kansasslider]

I just did a quick search for reptile vets in Omaha. There are several, here is the link for one.
http://allcreaturesveterinary.com/servi ... tiles.html. Hope its not the place you took her.