General Care Discussion :: Comments / instructions needed, please

[Kemul]

Hello,

I have tried searching for posts of shell problems here, however I can't find a good reference. So, I just want to make sure with you all experienced turtle owners what's going on with my turtle. I apologize if this is a repeated question.

I've been feeding my turtle pellets daily, no veggies yet because it didn't eat them after a week's attempt. Perhaps I've been over-feeding it. Its color is not as bright green as before and dark edges are growing from each shell piece. It's not as smooth as before as well. I don't know the right terms to use, so I'm just trying to describe them. You can see it from the top and side view photos.

Is there something wrong with its shell? Any sign of pyramiding? Is it even noticeable after 2 months?

Thank you all for reading

This is a top view:


Side view (rather blurry):


Another side view, notice the raised edge of the shell pieces:

[TheComputerGremlin]

Looks like a healthy little baby! Baby turtles are vibrant green and lose their color rapidly. By a year old, they are more brown, and will continue to dull over their lives. It's perfectly natural.

I don't see any outward signs of pyramiding or anything else with the shell. The shell will not be perfectly smooth ever again, it's that whole transition from baby to adult.

How many pellets do you feed and how often? Are you worried about pyramiding because you think you are overfeeding? What size is your tank? Do you have a good UVB bulb in place for basking?

Don't give up on veggies. It's best to continue offering veggies (start with leafy greens like leaf lettuces or dandelion greens or carrots) daily, whether eaten or not. Put the veggies in (often a veggie clip works well), and leave them in for at least 3-4 hours to give the turtle a chance to try them when you leave. Remove anything not eaten. I feed my turtle pellets in the morning and veggies in the evenings, he seems to be hungry in the evenings, so he dives right into the veggies.

[SpotsMama]

No pyramiding. I do see signs of rapid growth (wide seams) and definite signs of an impending scute shed - which is a good thing. You can tell because the edges of the scutes are beginning to lift or separate from the shell. He/she will be smoother after the shed. Don't pull off the pieces as they get loose - they'll pop off on their own. Only the top very thin layer should come off. Be sure he/she basks a lot under good UVB so he completely dries off and give him/her foods containing vitamin e (which will help him/her to shed). Here's a list:

Tomato
Sweet potato
Turnip greens
Blueberries
Apple skin

Have you washed your turtle's shell recently? I wonder if some of the dark is just dirt. Wash him gently, rubbing his shell with a wet paper towel or scrub LIGHTLY with a soft tooth brush and see if it helps.

My turtle's shell and skin turned dark as he grew up but I wouldn't call it dull. His shell is almost black with some caramel color showing and yellow striping visible. His shell is somewhat translucent. After his annual shed he's brighter and almost glossy. His skin is nearly black and the yellow stripes that remain are almost white. I think he's rather dramatic looking. As time for his shed comes closer, he gets dull.

[Kemul]

Dr. JAX:
Thank you for your reply.

The pellets are like tiny balls, so I can't really count how many. I usually size them using small spoon. I give my turtle about its head size, but now I'm going to try half amount instead.

Since there's morning sunshine almost daily where I live, I don't have lighting setup for the tank. I bask my turtle under direct morning sunlight whenever I'm available, that means about 4-5 days a week, about 30-45 minutes per session.

The tank size is still small, about 16 liters (4 gallons). I can't really have a big tank right now because I will have to put it on the floor. I can't risk doing that because I have a toddler. Well everyone knows what curious toddlers do

I will try giving my turtle veggies again, with your tips.

SpotsMama:
Thank you for the explanations. I will try to give the veggies you listed.

I haven't washed its shell. I don't think dirt can get on its shell though. My turtle's kept mostly in the aquarium except when basked. It doesn't bask on the dirt/soil. However, I will try to clean the shell.