General Care Discussion :: Quick Shell/Basking Question

Taking care of your turtle's overall health.

Post Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:22 am   Quick Shell/Basking Question

Can someone please tell me if my RES' shell looks normal? This is my first one and he RARELY basks and I am worried about his shell. When I take him out and dry him off his shell looks like this(see picture) is that normal?
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Sangposht
 
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 1:14 pm   Re: Quick Shell/Basking Question

Looks like overfeeding. The shell is rough, but should smooth out after shedding with a correct diet and some more basking. Do you have a UVB lamp for them?
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steve
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Post Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 3:46 pm   Re: Quick Shell/Basking Question

Hi Steve(and anyone else with input), Thanks.
So I moved him to a quieter area and he does seem to be basking a lot more, but the whit espots are still there when he's dry. Also, the edges of his shell are flaking off, is this okay? I have been using a 50watt halogen spot light on dim setting but I did just get a UVB reptolamp, is this better?

His diet consist mainly of Reptomin(6 pellets a day) and kale about twice a week and freeze dreid shrimp once a week or so. Is this okay? Is there anything you suggest to improve his shell?

Thank you
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Post Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 8:52 pm   Re: Quick Shell/Basking Question

Could be calcium/mineral deposits from hard water. When the turtle is out of the tank and dry, try rubbing a little white vinegar against the white areas to see if it helps. Does the plastron have anything similar?

What do you mean by flaking? Halogens are fine to use, but I would prefer a flood-style bulb so he can choose how warm he wants to get. I would not use kale or shrimp. Red leaf/Green leaf/Romaine would be better. Also try cucumber and carrots/ Some people also like to add some cuttlebone too.
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steve
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Post Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 1:09 am   Re: Quick Shell/Basking Question

Thanks!
I will try the white vinegar. Nothing on the plastron, so hopefully that is a good sign.
By flaking I mean that sometimes the edges of his shell flake off and are left on the platform, the look like a small thumb nail folded in half(from what I can tell online, i think it is the marginals around the edge of the carapace). I havent seen one for a couple days but i'll try to get a picture next time. Is that not normal?

I switched him to romaine but he has not touched the cucumber i left in the veggie clip. He also doesn't seem to be enticed by the cuttlebone at all.

I set up the uvb lamp in addition to the dimmed halogen, the reptisun bulb doesnt seem to give of much warmth so I wanted to make sure that he had that option as well as the UVB. Do you think that's too much?
Sorry for all the questions, I have no idea what I'm doing but I just want to make sure little Sabz is healthy and happy
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Post Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 11:44 am   Re: Quick Shell/Basking Question

Fluorescent UVB's don't give off enough heat for basking. The marginals are sometimes the last to shed. Sounds like you're making the right corrections :)
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steve
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Post Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:28 pm   Re: Quick Shell/Basking Question

Hi I'm from India ,i have got two res.one res has black dots on the shell and always basking not like other res is it sick
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Last edited by Tatakiran on Mon Apr 17, 2017 5:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 8:09 am   Re: Quick Shell/Basking Question

Can you post pictures of the black dots?
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