General Care Discussion :: wide shell?

[koreyleigh]

I've read a ton on here about shells and plastons and different conditions and knowing when things are wrong/not right.. but I have a question I can't seem to find the answer too.

My hatchling who is about 5 months old or so right now, isn't "fat" (as in - his skin isn't baggy or anything) but it seems like the width of his shell has gotten quite large. I'll have to get a photo of this for an accurate depiction, but are there any general guideline on shell growth wide-wise

*the section from plaston to the corners of the shell -- when looking from the bottom -- are a little bulbous. just curious..

[Lantic]

Well... what is his/her feeding conditions like? A picture will help determine what the condition is.

[ilikeadabox]

If it's what I think it is my hatchling's shell is the same, do you mean on the sides where the top and bottom shell meet seems wide?

[marisa]

A picture of what you're trying to describe would be good. If you're talking about the carapace (top shell), hatchlings often have a rounder ones than older turtles.

[koreyleigh]

Hey guys --

So I took a photo.. and also a photo of Hank's plaston. When I dried him off I noticed it was looking extremely brown? So here's the side of his shell, the bottom and one because he was such a champ..










As per feeding, lantic, he recently ate the Chinese algae eater in his tank :\ but typically I've been keeping him to Reptomin / ZooMed pellets in the mornings. (Veggies are coming soon -- I've been unable to get out in a long while and am going away this weekend)

I really appreciate everyone's help

[Lantic]

He looks too be good health. I don't see anything wrong. How many pellets is he fed?

[koreyleigh]

The Reptomin is 3 or 4 (for baby) and the ZooMed pellets.. which are tiny tiny hatchling ball-shapped ones, usually 5 or 6.. for variety haha. I try getting him to eat little bits of cuttlebone without much success :\