General Care Discussion :: skin peeling on turtle

[sierra15025]

I just got an RES on Friday and on Saturday I noticed it has some skin hanging off of its neck that looks like it got scraped up or something. It is on the top past the back of its head and it just floats around in the water cuz it is still attached to the turtle. Is this bad or could the skin be shedding there? I am a little worried about it but the turtle seems to be acting fine. Any info would be appreciated.

[SpotsMama]

Could it be just normal skin shedding? It's normal for them to shed some and if the water temp is warm then they will shed more. Shedding skin looks like little whitish whisps floating in the water around the turtle and is invisible out of the water.

[sierra15025]

I am hoping thats what it is but this is my first turtle so that is why I am posting this. Do you think it could be anything else?

[SpotsMama]

It's probably just normal shedding. Something else that can look somewhat similar is skin fungus. Is your turtle's water always kept very clean? If so then it's unlikely to be skin fungus. Sometimes a turtle injures the back of his head or neck when it bumps against a rough or pointy scute. You'd probably be able to tell if your turtle had some sort of injury.

[sierra15025]

Well I just got the turtle friday and put him in new water again saturday and that is when I noticed the skin being loose so the water is clean. It is only that spot that is peeling and it is right by his shell when he ducks his head back some so maybe that is what happened.

[steve]

If its thin, wispy, translucent and clings to the skin out of the water then it's normal. If there is some reddish or raw skin around it then it's a possible injury.