Urgent Care :: air pocket on the shell.

[Big Labowski]

about in the middle of the shell of my turtle there is an air pocket, like its on the shell, but like under a singer layer of skin, if i push on it its like a blister. is this just him shedding?

[cam722]

As long as it only appears when he's wet I'd say that's exactly what it is.. If for some reason it smells and is visible in or out of the water.. it may be something else.

[Big Labowski]

if its on him while hes basking or out of the water what might it be?

[steve]

Can you post a picture? Does it appear to have a golden color? It does sound like shedding to me though I do not know what you mean by it being like a "blister". Can you describe what you mean by that (is it soft, smelly, pinkish.. is it like a sore or mushy)?

[marisa]

I'm going to assume the shell is basically hard and healthy because you didn't indicate otherwise. The area is not raised at all but appears under the top scute? You say when you push on it, it's like a blister---do you mean that it appears to move? If so, it's likely air trapped under the scute, which has lifted a bit in preparation for coming off. If you press on the scute gently, does any water seem to seep out from underneath? My painteds have been shedding, and the whitish "bubbles" that moved under the scutes when I touch them were signs that the scute were going to come off.

[Big Labowski]

ok, what i mean by a blister, is like when u push on a blicster the bubble like goes away, yes it has a golden color, the turt is in healthy condition, no water seems to come out of it. so do you think its sheeding like i do?

[cam722]

That's what it sounds like .. just shedding

[Big Labowski]

ok good, cuz i was getting worried, about how long will he have this before he sheds?

[marisa]

If it moves like that (goes away), it's an air bubble. When you press on the scute and water seeps out along the edges, the scute should come off fairly soon after that.