General Care Discussion :: Itchy Shell!

[jaxal]

Hi Guys! This is my first post - nice to meet you all

I have a red eared slider called Squirt, he's just under a year old! I rescued him from the middle of a freezing cold mall in Dubai when he was a hatchling.

Anyway! Recently I've noticed that he has been scratching his shell up against things that are in his tank. Sometimes he rarely does it but other times he does it quite a bit - he really gets into it! lol! His shell looks completey normal though!

I didn't know whether hes just having a general scratch because it feels nice or if its something more serious!

Is it normal?

Thanks for your help!!

Jackie

[Rosepruner]

he could be in a shedding process, I've heard when they're shedding the shell will itch, similar to when you are growing new stuff under a scar and it itches.

[jaxal]

That would make sense... he seems to be constantly growing! I can't believe how big hes got compared to when I first bought him!

Thanks

[SpotsMama]

It's completely normal. They seem to want to scrape off the shedding scutes. Sometimes Spot makes quite a racket doing a rumba under his underwater bridge. Some people's turtles will rock back and forth under their keepers' fingernails.

[jaxal]

Its hilarious watching him, he wiggles his bum up against the filter!

I got him out and gave him a good scratch with a wet toothbursh which he absolutely loved! His shell looks nice and clean now too

He's gone back to basking now!

[Deon]

wow this is really useful thanks! My turtle used to scratch against my fingernails but it wasn't effective. i never thought of a toothbrush!

[mikee]

Jax -- If you have a turtle that likes having it's carapace brushed with a toothbrush, that is unusual. Most hate it as it is like you being in a large barrel and some hammering it with a hammer. I try to wash mine from time to time to get off algea and dirt and they just don't like it. I make it as quick as possible. m.

[Azfar]

I try to wash mine from time to time to get off algea and dirt and they just don't like it. I make it as quick as possible. m.

My turtles also don't like it at all.. they will hissing at me.. wwuu.. really scared when they started to hiss and open their mouth to show how angry they are when I brush their plastron.. hohoho.. but if I brush the shell carapace.. they like it.. no mad at all and seat still.. hihi..

[theartbook35]

ALL reptiles like to rub against things to loosen shedding scales or scutes. It's totally normal.

As far as washing is concerned, Typhoon hissed at first, then calmed down and eventually could care less. Hurricane gets squirmy/pushy. I was surprised by Hurricane's reaction, honestly, since the toothbrush I use to clean them both is green, and she REALLY likes green.