General Care Discussion :: If my turtle looks like it's shedding, is it?

[Zova Dot]

The tips of each of my turtle's scales (I forget the proper name...) are pretty translucently light green and to me, they look like they're shedding but is there a chance it could be something else? Or am I just being paranoid again? (:

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Can you post a picture? If they are green it might be algea

[Zova Dot]

It's light green, and when I look at it, it totally looks like its shedding first impression.

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Can you lift up that little tranlusaunt green part? If so it's shedding but don't pull it off.

[michaelg]

Yes it is normal for turtles to shed their scutes (aka scales). When it first begins, it will look light green. As it progresses, it will start to get more opaque. They will eventually fall off. Don't help them fall off, let them fall off on their own.

Shedding their scutes occurs more often when they are smaller. As they get larger, they will shed less and less and their growth slows down.

-Michael

[Zova Dot]

Yes, I'm totally familiar about how them shedding is normal, I've read lots of it in the past. I was just wondering, if it looks like shedding, is it definitely shedding? It can't be anything else, right?

[steve]

A physical inspection would determine if it's definitely shedding or not. Pictures don't always help but usually do.