Box Turtle and Tortoise Discussion :: baby box soft shell

[cindyinmd55]

I have a baby box turtle. I have had him 3 years. He was found in a swimming pool skimmer and given to me. He still had the egg crack on his nose. he seems to be growing slowly. He has the light he needs in his aquarium, eats well, uses his water dish, plus i put him in water 1 hour a day. The bottom of his shell seems very soft and I am not sure how long it has been that way. Is that normal?
Cindy

[jenaero]

Do you have any pics? Do you know what kind of box turtle you have? What have you been feeding him? What is the setup like?

It's not normal for the shell to be soft at that age. I have a 1yo with a soft shell and it was due to improper housing/diet/lighting from before I got him.

Are you using a calcium/vitamin supplement?

[cindyinmd55]

25 gal aquarium, eats canned box turtle food (mix of fruits and veggies), purchased from pet store, box turtle and tortoise food crumbled into his water that has calcuim in it, zoomed basking light for warmth and growth, dish of water, dirt area, rock area, artificial tree stump for shade, reptile bedding, rock area. he seems to thrive. he is active, responds to voice and being held. my only concern is his soft shell.

[jenaero]

Aquariums are really not a good idea for land turts/torts. Being able to see out can stress them. Try feeding him some silk worms (good calcium content) and butterworms a couple times a week. Don't crumble anything into his water. Leave the water fresh. You can roll the worms in a mixture of RepCal and HerptiVite a couple times a week to make sure he's getting everything he needs. What is the percentage of uvb that your bulb emits?

[cindyinmd55]

basking light is either a 50 or 75 watt. does not say what percentage of uvb, just says 35% more than other reflector bulbs

[jenaero]

I wouldn't trust that. 35% more than nothing is still nothing. Go get a reptisun 5.0 or 10.0 for uvb and use a separate bulb for heat. You should also get him checked by a vet.

[z-chic]

sounds like that is just a heat light ...you need a 5.0 UVB flourecent bulb on him. They have to have the UVB rays to process vitamin D3 and calcium. That is probably why his shell is soft.