brady2180 wrote:hello. my turtle gets some algae on his shell. it's not so much, but i will usually remove it by gently scrubbing it off with a toothbrush.
That's perfect, just make sure you are using a super soft toothbrush and you are very gentle. Don't use any soaps or lotions or anything, just a little water that is about the temp of the tank water.
brady2180 wrote:is there any harm with the algae on the shell?
Yes, harm can come if the algae gets a chance to take root on the shell. If every spot of algae isn't removed, it can lead to shell rot or fungal infections.
brady2180 wrote:should i take any steps to avoid this from happening?
Yes, you should try to figure out what is causing the algae buildup. A little algae in the tank isn't terrible, I still have a brown-type algae that hangs out on the supports of my basking area, but it has never spread to my turtle, so I don't worry. Things to think about to resolve your algae issues: Is your tank big enough? Is your turtle too big for the tank they are in? Do you have an adequate filter? Is your tank exposed to natural sunlight which helps algae to grow? Does your tank have too many nitrates (you can buy a test kit at the store)?
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:27 am algae
