General Care Discussion :: Rescue Turtle's shell - advice/treatments?

[Marybeth9]

I recently got a RES from a local stray animal shelter. The person who turned it in stated they found it walking in front of their apartment building. So, I have no real history. The shelter took it to a vet who said it was "nutrition caused" but didn't offer any remedies or rehab plan. I do have a vet appointment next week but I wanted to get some feedback from the forum. He (?) has a great appetite and otherwise seems normal. He did damage (try to eat?) his floating dock (pic 1).

[kmichael55]

When turtles crave calcium, they go for the floating dock. Look for cuttlebone at your pet store (may be in the bird section) and refer to the cuttlebone sticky:
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=18320

Search through the Nutrition section (as well as all of the others) in the links at the top of the page. There is so much helpful information here.

Hopefully with a good diet and proper set up, your turtle's shell can improve. I'm no expert but it does look like he needs a shed! Good luck, hopefully you will find all the answers you need here!

[marisa]

Props to you for rescuing this RES.

Exactly how big is she (I don't see any long nails and that RES looks rather large, so I'm assuming you have a female))? Measure straight down the back from the scute behind the neck to the ones above the tail. I see the deformed marginal scutes (the ones that make up the rim) and yes, this is largely due to poor nutrition as well as an inadequate enclosure (incorrect lighting, etc.). The scutes also look in poor condition; they will look better after shedding, but unfortunately, the extent of the deformity will not be significantly reversed.

Any improvement will take a good diet, a good set-up that allows for ample basking under correct lighting, and TIME. Read up on the basics that your RES needs and make any necessary improvements to the set-up. I'd change the basking area since your RES finds it edible. Try gettting some cuttlebone (in the bird section), take off the hard backing, break off some head-size pices and let them float in the tank. Your RES is looking for more calcium in the diet ( a lack of which is part of the reason why the shell is the way it is), and this is an easy, inexpensive way to provide it.

What are you feeding her? At her size, pant matter should be making up a significant part of the diet (look at the list for what's good to give).

[Marybeth9]

Thank you both for the advice - i wasn't sure if eating the floating dock was a craving for something or just hunger. I did change it out. I have birds too so I did have some cuttle bone on hand. I wouldn't have known to give it to her or that that's what she was craving. She is almost exactly 4 3/4 inches long. I've been feeding the standard fare, packaged pellets and treats along with some of the recommended additions from the nutrition list. I'll add some more plant materiel for her. I did get everyone feeder fish last week and was suprised she knew what to do. Thanks again, I'll post again once I start seeing a difference in her shell.

[steve]

During the vet visit, you might want to ask for some silver sulfadiazine as I think the shell also has a fungal infection.