General Care Discussion :: Soft Shell

[my_manuelita_turtle]

I was reading the health section, because today when I took my baby RES for a walk and some sun I felt her shell a little soft. Im still looking for a UVB lamp, and ocasionally I take her outside so she can get some sun, other than that... water temperature, basking area with warm temperature, a thing that has the shape of a turtle that releases calcium, water filter, big space... She has it. I've had her for 2 weeks now. She's still adapting, and I just changed her on Saturday from a "lagoon" to a 20gal tank, she´s not eating that much. Im really concerned because 10 years ago I had a baby turtle and she died, her shell got soft and after that everything got worst. I didnt find answers on the health sections. I think it said something that for baby RES is normal to have kind of soft shell...

[xsavingsaturdayx]

It sounds like you're doing everything right, keep it up. Babies shells are usually softer than those of older turtles. I don't think it's anything worry about.

[my_manuelita_turtle]

I read that the top of the shell is supposed to be soft, and that the part that my turtle has soft. The edges are hard. Is that the way it is?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Yeah everything sounds fine, man :p

[mikee]

Usually a soft shell is due to poor husbandry, which in this case, may be due to improper lighting and calcium poor diet. They do need their uvb lighting, along with uva, to properly metabolize their food. If that is the case, your turtle could be suffering from MBD which affects the bones and shell. If he has MBD it will also affect his jaw and he will stop eating. I suggest a calcium rich diet and proper lighting and water temperature. You may consider a vet visit.

[SpotsMama]

When turtles are very young, up to about a year old, their shells are somewhat flexible. They gradually harden until by the end of the year they should be all hard. The last part to harden is typially the back part around the tail.

The the turtle is more than a year old and his/her shell is still soft, then it is a sign of a serious condition as mikee described. Failure to harden or a shell getting soft is a result of insufficient calcium in the diet and lack of UVB.