General Care Discussion :: Shell Question

[byc605]

Hey Everyone,

I am new to this forum. I just recieved two baby turtles from a friend of mine, and one of them has these spots on them. Can anyone tell me what they are? I have them both soaking in Sulfa-Dip for 3 hours everyday for the past 4 or 5 days now. I have them in a 40 long as of right now, with a heater, filter, basking area, uva and uvb light. Thanks!

[taurusgirl]

i dont see any spots

[SpotsMama]

By spots do you mean the whitish areas? They are probably just signs of a shell getting ready to shed the top very thin layer, which is a normal thing. When you press gently on the white area, does any water leak out from underneath? Can you feel the edges where it's white lifting slightly? If the shell is getting ready to shed, don't pull on the lifting scutes - let them fall off naturally.

I wouldn't bother with the sulfa dip. It's not very effective.

[byc605]

Sorry. I meant the whitish areas around the edges of the scutes. Theres two of them. This is my first time owning turtles so i have no idea what is what. Thanks for the input!

[SpotsMama]

To help with the shed, include foods with vitamin e in the diet - like blueberries, steamed sweet potato and apple peel. Little ones aren't usually much interested in veggies but most will eat a little steamed sweet potato - they consider it a great treat.

[blackforces get you]

to me, it looks like its getting ready to shed

[steve]

A few people here have had hatchlings with something similar. I think in many of those cases, it was a husbandry issue. What has he been eating?

[byc605]

What is husbandry? I have been feeding them repti pellets. About 1-2 a day. I also left a piece of cuttlefish bone in the tank but they don't eat it. As far as water coming out If push down.. No water seems to be coming out. Thanks for the inputs

[byc605]

Will the shell get better?

[steve]

Husbandry refers to how you are caring for your turtle... it's diet, setup, environment, etc.

The shell can get better, but that really depends on what is causing the problem.

[marisa]

That's the only area that looks like that? It looks to me like somehow the area was injured (perhaps hit against something?). It might look worse before it gets better, scutes might eventually shed in those places. Give the turtle(s) a good habitat and healthy diet and keep an eye on it.

[TurtleLover_S&B]

Well,I just think he's getting ready to shed.