General Care Discussion :: How to force scute shedding?

[Bumby's Mom]

My babies are 4 months old now and have at least trippled in size and I think the scutes need to come off. It looks like more have grown but the top ones just aren't budging. When they swim all around the edges of the scutes are that goldish color like they are about to come off but they have been this way for about a month or so now. Should I raise the water temp to sort of force the scutes off or is it better to leave them alone? I don't want to hurt them in any way but it just seems like they should have come off by now.

And just for my sanity- turtles can't get ich/ick right? I know I asked this already but I don't think I got definite answer. I was told it is a scale parasite. And btw my second pleco (in 2 months) from PetSmart just up and died. Will NEVER buy any living creature from them.

[industrial_girl_2000]

LOL, you will get differing opinions on this board about whether someone should "force" scutes off or not, but here is my take on it: if the scute edges are starting to lift (or you can visibly see the big bubble under the scutes), then I am more than happy to pull them off. Sheba is so large, that when she goes thru scute-shedding, they clog my filter as they pop off, or clutter the bottom of the tank so I have to fish them out! So to save me the hassle of having to dig them out of her tank or tank filter, I just take her out of the tank, put her on a towel, and whatever scutes are lifting, I peel them off of her. If the scute is NOT lifting, I leave it alone.

She hates it when I do this, but is always willing to forgive me readily since I have a treat available for her when I am done.

Oh yeah, and regarding Ick, I was under the impression that you had to have fins in order to be affected. Sorry to hear you had to deal with this annoying disease recently.

[marisa]

To me, "forcing" scutes off is a no-no. "Helping" scutes off when you're absolutely 100% sure they're ready to some off (and not that you just think it's time for them to come off) can be done, but for me, it's never been all at once. If you can lift the edge of the scute, but you feel resistance, I'd leave it alone. If it's ready to some off, a scute will just about pop off.

No ich for turtles as far as I'm aware.

[Vivi]

yea i agree with marisa dont pull of the scute. if you feel resistance dont do it. just rub it off gently and it should come off. if it doesnt then they're not ready.

[steve]

I think there was someone a couple of months ago who forcible removed some scutes to help the shedding and only contributed to some damage (and bleeding).

Since your turtles are still hatchlings, I'd try to leave them alone as much as possible. If you have the right setup and all the necessities, it'll come off when its ready.

[SpotsMama]

Dietary vitamin E facilitates scute shedding and vitamin E shortage is one cause of scute retention. Here are some foods containing vitamin E that you can include in your turtles' diet to make sure they get enough.

Foods with vitamin e that are suitable for turtles:

Tomato
Sweet potato
Turnip greens
Blueberries
Apple skin

[Bumby's Mom]

Thanks everyone. I just wanted to clear this up a bit, I didn't want to get them off myself (by force) I was only wondering if there was something I could give them or raise the water temp. Spotsmam- Thanks! I have some tomato right now and if it is still good I will see if my picky babies will eat it LOL. They really only like red lettuce (and to be honest I don't know the name of it) that comes in bags of mixed lettuce. Next time I go to the store I will get the greens, Nyxie hates greens and lettuce so I haven't even tried the greens with the babies yet.

[mikee]

Bum-Mom -- It just like watching a pot of water boil. It never seems fast enough. Let nature take its course. If your water, temperatures, and lighting are up to snuff, you should be okay. I would say, no to pulling them off.