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While I was in the pet store the other day I was looking @ some of the ingredients for different types of shell care products and bacteria/microbial infection treatments and noticed that many of the organic types were tea tree oil and other tea tree extract based...........So my question to you all as a new owner is ..... is tea tree oil once diluted a good maintence item for my Mr. Scratch's shell and limbs since he was just purchased about a week ago from a pet store and seems to be not in the best of health-some broken claws- wasn't keep at the proper temp in the store- bad diet and definate uvb deprevation.....? I've had the claws looked @ and treated and purchased an amazing set-up with all the proper water levels and temps, uva and b lighting, filteration, basking lamps with the proper temps, dry exploration areas, swimming areas, proper diet and a good caretaker. Is this a good practice to help return him to health or just me being ocd about wanting him to have the best in care?
And experts you may begin you deliberation!

I don't know anything about treating the shell and limbs with such a product, but with proper care, some of the affects of poor housing previous should start to go away. Your turtle should have a healthier looking shell underneath when he sheds.

There is another product called vitashell that isn't recommended because it coats the shell and keeps it from breathing. In the long term it acutally does more damage than good. Since you are talking about an oil...I would think no. But, as I mentioned, I really don't know either.

thanks, for the reply. Yeah I thought the same about it because it was an oil. But most tea tree oil extracts have instructions on them for usuing on sensitive skin and how to dilute. The products that I saw in the stores usually contained small amounts of the oil itself and more water than anything else. if it did contain another ingredient it was something like mineral water.

I am starting to see his shell improve slowly and her skin is much more vibriant since purchase. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed about the rest of the transition period from the pet trade to my family. He definately seems happier and is slowly getting more confident around me. Also a quick side question? Do most RES enjoy LOT"S of exploration around the home? As I spend more time with Scratch and confidence builds I find him {I saw the unusuall display of what I believe to be called "Flairing" so I'm pretty sure it's a male now} just exploring the hell out of my apartment! Let me know?

I have a hard time with the smell of tea tree oil, but have read that for people, at least, it's good for healing the skin. Someone on the forum was using it for shell problems a while back, I don't know what the results were.

Personally, I wouldn't use it "for maintenance." You said you recently got him, and your desire to make your turtle better as soon as possible is laudable. But, your turtle didn't get in the condition he's in suddenly and it will take time for him to show improvement. I'd let that amazing set-up and a healthy diet do their jobs first.

Flairing? Do you mean fanning (exposing himself) or fluttering (his paws at an object)?

Well I may have been miss leading when I used the word "mantenance" more of a recop type deal... His shell had several pits in it and a couple spots where it looked like inbetween the parts of the shell there was small white deposites. and a single small shell injury with white deposites. Also on the bottom of his shell there are what looks like watermarks... maybe privious damage healing? So I spoke with a homeopathic vet locally and she seemed to approve of the use.. as she was the person who treated his claws. I don't like triditional medicine unless it is the only answer.. especially if the is an organic answer is available and especially for a paitent that cannot approve of the treatment. I have nothing against all the creams and other items available.. it just feels better usuing something natural.. I like the smell.. almost earthy.. Guess I'm wierd..
So the advice was to place him in a isolation tank {10 gal} and dose her once a day with Melafix an all natural antibacterial water additive made from tea trees.. Designed for fish. The active ingredient is melaleuca which I am not familar with. I was also instructed to provide adiquate basking and uvb lighting in the isolation tank. and to take him out several times a day to allow for him to completly dry out and to walk around. After he is completly dry I apply tea tree oil diluted with distilled water with a cotton ball to the entire shell and limbs allow to dry and then rinse under running water to make shure there isn't any in his eyes. I was instructed to do this for 7 days and then return him to his normal habitat.. I have done this for two day's now and have noticed consideribale improvement on the inflamation on his claws and coloring on his shell..Also the white spots seem to be drying out and dissappearing..Let me know whatcha think????

Oh yeah... I was also instructed to raise the water temp to 85.. this seems high but she stated it might aide in making him eat and be acitve during the healing process?

What were the previous temps? Is there a water heater?

Yeah I have an underwater heater and privious temp was 75-80 keep in mind I've only had him 2 weeks or so.. I went back to look at how he was kept before at the pet store and it was appaling. about two inches of water in a rubbermaid bucket with several 6-7 inch res and a large lava rock all under a basking bulb that does not provide uvb. The owner explained that it wasn't the proper set up but that he sells them so fast that it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal....even though the same 4 turtles that were in there when I bought Scratch were in the tub still...2 weeks later.. and god only knows how long they were in there to start with.