Other Turtle Discussion :: toenails

[yosmartpants]

i just noticed that gustav doesn't have a toenail on both inside toes...the two that would touch if he put his feet together. is that normal or did he lose them?

[marisa]

On the hind feet? This is normal.

[yosmartpants]

what benefit would this have to them? anatomically it would seem that having a nail there would help with mobility...but what do i know.

[birdlady]

What about missing toenails on front feet? Do they regrow? Are they gone forever?
Bob has 1 nail missing on each front foot.
Holly

[marisa]

The "missing" claw on the hind feet is the one closest to the shell, no? Either it has never grown or is so undeveloped that you don't notice it. My guess (purely mine) is that it's not there so that when the foot is retracted the claw doesn't impede the foot getting into the shell if the turtle retracts it quickly (can't get caught on the shell).

Birdlady, your turtle is missing a claw on each front foot? Don't know why that is. Is the the same claw on each foot? Some kind of injury perhaps? If the nailbed isn't infected or otherwise damaged, it's likely to grow back, but I think it will take some time to do this.

[birdlady]

No infection..nailbed looks good...just no nail.
I'm starting to think this poor turtle must have been with other turtles who beat it up or something (wish s/he could talk and tell me it's life story).

3rd nail in is gone.
can't find a pic of it's other foot and nails...I took these for sex id'ing...knew they'd come in handy someday..lol