General Care Discussion :: Calcified plastron??

[RESCHIU]

I've been seeing vet about this and my vet told me there's nothing I could do...but I want to ask if you have any other opinion, my turtle's plastron has white patch on there, most people(including my vet) told me it's because of the water mineral build up, but I've ALWAYS been using the filtered reverse osmosis water for her(never tap water) ever since 2 years ago but the condition only gotten worse and worse, I'm afraid if I don't do something her shell might break off....can someone please tell me what I can do? do any of you have similar issue?
*don't worry about the black patch on the right, that was from a bacterial infection about 5 years ago and it was cured, but the scar is still there

http://www.fx.clemson.edu/~ychiu/turtle/shell01.JPG
http://www.fx.clemson.edu/~ychiu/turtle/shell02.JPG
http://www.fx.clemson.edu/~ychiu/turtle/shell03.JPG

[RESCHIU]

here is the picture from last year, as you can see the condition has gotten a lot worse since then
http://www.fx.clemson.edu/~ychiu/turtle/white3.JPG

I live in Vegas by the way...where the hardest water is
I guess the reverse osmosis water doesn't even work...

[steve]

Hi RESCHIU, this also looks like fungus. My turtle currently has something similar, it's been very difficult to treat (I've been unsuccessful).

[RESCHIU]

Thanks for the reply, at first I thought it's bacterial/fungus infection as well, but it doesn't have any smell or bad odor, does your have the smell?

[steve]

If it is only a fungus infection, it won't have a smell (from what I know).

[mikee]

Res-u - If you are sure it is calcium give this a try. Dilute regular table salt in some warm water as strong as you can get it and try and bush it off with a tooth brush. Just do one section and see how that does. After doing the section let it dry and do it again and wash of and see how you do. Turtles do not like to be brushed off with a brush like this. He may try to bite you. Before you do any of this check with the vet and see if he has a problem with this. I have done all of my sliders with no problem. m.

[marisa]

RESCHIU, wasn't your RES being treated for MBD a while back? Could the condition of the shell have something to do with that?

Just curious, but what did the shell look like before you started using RO water? Tap water would actually be better to use because it contains more of the minerals and electrolytes your RES needs.

[SpotsMama]

What does her carapace look like?

It looks to me like she hasn't been shedding scutes like she should and that they are fungusy. Have you noticed her shedding recently? Are pieces coming off in flakes?

Does she bask regularly?
How old is her UVB light bulb and what brand and strength do you use?
Do you keep cuttlebone in the tank?
Does she get servings of food containing vitamin e once a week (blueberries, turnip greens, steamed sweet potato, tomato, apple peel)?