General Care Discussion :: Tiny hole in shell

[Bladedvixen]

Jackson has a tiny hole in his shell and looks to be a small break near that scute. It has been there since before we got him in mid April.



I have been monitering it since we got him to make sure that it is not getting worse and so far so good. Will he outgrow this little damaged area? I am worried that entire scute will break off. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to help Jackson out and keep it from getting worse?

[steve]

Looks like the seam is missing, can't tell if the scute is damages. As long as the area is healed, then I suppose it's fine. I don't think I've seen that particular type of damage before but there is a bit of concern since there is no seam between the two scutes over the tail (and that is normal).

However, it will get much stronger and harder as he grows but I'm not sure if the seam will re-grow.

[marisa]

It looks like there may have been (or is) some shell rot there. The fuzzy green areas look like there's some algae on them. Is the area soft at all?

I'd either use some diluted Betadine or diluted Hibiclens (you can get either at a pharmacy) and gently clean the area with a q-tip.

Look at the area between the right marginal scutes (there's a bit of white there). Can you tell if something similar is happening there?

[Bladedvixen]

It looks like there may have been (or is) some shell rot there. The fuzzy green areas look like there's some algae on them. Is the area soft at all?

the area is hard as well as the shell around it. The white spot in the photo is just a reflection of the flash from the cam (I suppose)... I took him out and inspected the area from the bottom and top. The area with the hole looks to be very slightly healing back at the section closest to the center of his shell.

He is eating and basking normally and no part of the rest of his shell is like that. It would be interesting to know how he got the nifty hole but I dont think its shell rot (or at least not any more if that is the case)

[marisa]

I think it was shell rot that healed. I'd still keep the area clean.

[Bladedvixen]

I will, hopefully everything will heal up over time. Thanks

[Bladedvixen]

Well its been just over a month since I made this thread about my turtle. I am happy to say that the break in the seam above his tail has almost sealed up all the way! The hole in the shell has also been healing but not filling in. It seems as if the hole has grown with the turtle but now resembles more of a triangular shape as the scutes grow out. the connecting piece is thinning out and I believe will break off eventually and the shell will heal much the same way the other seam did.

I will try to get pictures up later.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Wow! Good to hear that the seam is starting to close!

[Bladedvixen]

here is the picture as promised. As you can see, it is still separate at the bottom but the shell is growing back in closest to the center of the body. Poor jackson is sorta going through a shed right now, eventually those tiny scutes will fall off but for now they are still sticking .



yes the hole IS bigger but shaped very differently and overall doing better. I will update again in a few more weeks to show the progress!

[Bladedvixen]

Well it has been a little over a month since I last updated on Jacksons shell holes. They seem to be healing up more as his shell grows. Thankfully, he is finally starting to shed those old scutes!