General Care Discussion :: Shell Check Please!

[luvhautecouture]

Hello RES experts! I searched around the forum but still cannot tell if Squirt's shell is healthy! Please advice! Thank you.







THANKS again! Squirt appreciates it.

[SpotsMama]

She is a beautiful color and has a nice overall shape. She is, however, retaining scutes - meaning the top, thin translucent layers of shell that should periodically fall off are not falling off like they should.

1. The gravel in the bottom of the tank is a distinct hazzard. Turtles eat it and it can stop them up with really bad results. You should switch it out for larger river rocks or just go with a bare bottom tank. Not related to the shell situation but important.

2. It looks like the water in the tank is shallow. Turtles naturally live in lakes and big ponds and love to swim and dive. You can raise the water as high in the tank as you can BUT not so high that your turtle can climb up on the basking platform or filter and escape. More water (and no gravel) will also be easier to keep clean. Again, not related to the shell.

3. What is related to the shell is that it appears in the photo that the turtle is so heavy she's sinking the ramp so that the bottom of her shell would never get to completely dry out. What does her plastron look like? It's essential for shell health that the shell dry out frequently - top and bottom. You could either get a larger more bouyant ramp or a different style ramp, or build something like an above tank basking area.

4. Make sure she has plenty of calcium (cuttlebone) and basks under good quality UVB so she can metabolize the calcium she eats. Also, give her periodic foods containing vitamin e, which helps with shedding. Good foods are steamed sweet potato, blueberries, turnip greens, tomato and apple peel.

[luvhautecouture]

Thank you so much for your reply. We are in the process of finding a larger tank for Squirt. Gravel will be removed promptly. I don't have pictures of the plastron right now.. btu I can try to take some later. Squirt often stands up so the whole body can dry off.

Thanks for tips on the diet. My mom is currently feeding an unhealthy diet! We will gradually change the diet to promote good scute shedding.

Also, is there a reason you refer to Squirt as a "she"? We always assumed "she" was a "he"...

Thank you again!

[SpotsMama]

No reason for me to call Squirt a "she". To me, most turtles are "he" because my turtle's a "he". Got yours mixed up with some other turtle I guess! Please apologize to him.

The signs that would identify a male aren't visible in your photos - especially the long long front toenails. Also, big thick tail.

[luvhautecouture]

I apologize in advance for the despicable tank conditions... But here is a pic of Squirt's tail. I think this is a male tail?




I am planning on buying Squirt a tank around 80 gallons!!

[lunabebe4]

looks like a girl to me. I dont see long nails or anything

[steve]

Looks like a girl to me too I think you should be shooting for a 100 gallon tank (or larger).

[SpotsMama]

Looks like a girly tail to me too.

CAUTION: She's about to climb out of that tank. Turtles are remarkably good climbers. If she can hook those front feet over the edge she can get out. I take back what I said about putting more water in the tank - it's too small. If the water is any higher she'll get out for sure. I agree with Steve - she's due for a major upgrade.