General Care Discussion

I did a search for exposed bone layers threads in the forum, and it seems like most of the time it will heal on its own from what ive read, but most of these threads are concerning much smaller areas of exposed bone than Kaya has. I know, I need to post some pics, i will as soon as I can. Kaya is gravid so the week has been kinda hectic for her while i try to arrange a nesting area.

I dont think this is related, but one morning i forgot to close the top to the cage and she was able to climb out and fall about 4 ft to the ground. When i woke up she was just wandering around like she always does when shes not in the tank. I examined her very carefully and didnt see any signs of damage, no redness on the shell, she was walking and swimming just fine, no loss of apetite etc, so I made sure to close the tank more carefully and assumed everything was fine.
A few days later i noticed a spot of exposed bone layer on the top of her shell, and then the next day i noticed these spots were bigger. It seems that while swimming back and forth restlessly like gravid turtles will do, she was rubbing the top of her shell on the basking area ramp. I have made adjustments so she can swim back and forth freely now, and the spots havnt got any worse since then. The spot is just smaller than a quarter, is this too big to heal on its own?
Steve: I saw your replys to other threads like this saying that the bone layer will fall off exposing a fleshy area, and the turtle should be dry docked when this happens to heal faster. Im just wondering if there is anything else i should do to help with the area being so large.

I appreciate any help or advice you can give me, and hopefully i can post some pics this weekend.

If there is exposed bone due to a crack, refer to viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4519

If the exposed bone is due to an injury, it might heal with scar tissue. If the keratin scute is loose and necrotic, then I would see a vet ASAP because there really isn't a home treatment.

what is the keratin scute? none of the scutes are loose or anything, and there are not any cracks, the top of her shell was just rubbing on a part of the ramp that is abrasive. ill try to post pics soon

Keratin is the material that makes up the scute, same stuff as your fingernails. Most wounds heal faster when dry, so thats why dry docking is recommended. There's also less of infection when it's dry.

thanks for your help steve, should i dry dock now or wait until the white layer falls off? i was thinking about just getting one of those black or red heat lamps to keep on at night. The other night i accidentally left her light on later than normal and she was sleeping up there, she went back into the tank after i turned the light off probably to stay warm, but maybe with a night heat lamp she would dry dock herself.

What white layer? If there is a large area of exposed bone, then you really need to see a vet. Pics might help determine the severity of the situation.

yes like i said she was rubbing the back of her shell on her basking ramp, and this exposed the bone layer
"A few days later i noticed a spot of exposed bone layer on the top of her shell, and then the next day i noticed these spots were bigger. It seems that while swimming back and forth restlessly like gravid turtles will do, she was rubbing the top of her shell on the basking area ramp. I have made adjustments so she can swim back and forth freely now, and the spots havnt got any worse since then. The spot is just smaller than a quarter, is this too big to heal on its own? "

Are you sure it's a bone layer? It will have a rough texture to it.

well i guess im not sure, i assumed it was bone layer because its white. I havnt touched it as i figured the area would be very sensitive. could it be something else? Ive been watching it carefully and it hasnt gotten any worse, she seems to be acting pretty normal. ill try to post some pics today i know its hard to help without them.

I'm not sure what it could be without looking. If it's affecting one particular area, then I would suspect it's an injury.

General Care Discussion :: bone exposed on shell, how serious is this?

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