Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:15 pm
Is it their shell or their skin or both that's getting pale? Do they behave the same as yours (are they lively, have good appetites, bask)?
It's very hard to say about a case like this without seeing a photo when the turtle is dry. There are a lot of possibilities - some normal or harmless like shedding scutes or mineral deposits to some not normal like fungus. A clear photo of the dry turtle may help narrow it down.
Do you know the basics of a good turtle setup? There are a lot of components - light, basking, temperature, cleaniliness, diet - and if any is not right the turtle can get ill. Do you know if any components are substandard?
Temperatures can be tricky. When I feel my turtle's water, it feels very cool to me but in reality it's at 73 to 75 degrees, right where it should be for a grown turtle. It's just that we cannot tell by touch what the temperature actually is in water or on the basking area. It must be measured with a thermometer. What is the actual temperature of the water and the basking area as measured with a thermometer?
Maybe your cousin can come on here so we can communicate with her directly. That might be easier.
SpotsMama