My male turtle very recently started developing something really weird on his shell. It's like the shell's layer is lifting, and allowing pockets of air to form. In the light, it looks like he has gold blotches on his shell.
They're not big areas -- the biggest one is about less than a quarter of an inch long and wide. All are in a circular shape. There are a bunch of them -- over 15.
Otherwise, the shell is great. Hard and durable.
He is very alert, not at all lethargic, great appetite. Very healthily chasing minnows around the tank and displaying average turtle behaviour.
I haven't been able to supply him UVB lighting in the last while because the nearest store around me only sells Fluker UVB lights. BAD experiences with them. They either don't assemble properly, lack the screws they're supposed to come with, and the one that came with all its parts sparked and nearly fell in the tank water!
He does, though, have a warmth lamp, and he dries off completely on his dock. Is this shell rot? Should I worry?
Also, I can't provide a picture, seeing as to how these "blotches" are only visible in the right light. When I hold him and look at his shell, the spots blend in. If I press on the area, the belevelment of the lifting layer is visible, though.
It's easier to imagine it if you think of his shell being sprinkled with metallic gold spray paint. Looks like it in the light.
