General Care Discussion :: babies recovering and messy...

[scripta_elegans]

The 2 RES that have been ill are making a steady recovery. Now they are both shedding heavily from the warm water, and I am wondering if I can do anything to help them get rid of some dead skin. They look itchy. I made sure it wasn't fungal at the vet, but wow they have dead skin coming off! my husband keeps telling them they have little skin beards. i tried to help one today by gently rubbing his head with a cotton swab, but he took exception and kept biting it. That made it difficult, plus I wasn't sure if it was okay to do. can I do anything to help them?

[grey goose]

Are they basking at all? Thats usually how they get the dead skin off. Once they dry off, they start jerking their head and legs, sloughing, I think its called. How hot is the water?

[steve]

What are the water temperatures? In most cases, there is nothing extra to do.

[scripta_elegans]

The water has been between 82-83 for awhile now as they have been battling RI. They are basking, and I have noted little bits of skin on the platform. The water is @ 80 degrees now, as they are improving, and it seems the water temp change has brought about lots of shedding. I have 2 basking platforms for them, one @ 95 degrees at the vets request, and one @90. They also have a floating log on the cooler side of the tank, and I keep the house @ 80. They seem pretty happy with the exception of rubbing thier faces frequently.

[marisa]

You could get some aquarium salt and let them soak in an aquarium salt bath. I've used this for problem skin and it's worked well.

[scripta_elegans]

Thanks for the idea Marisa! How much salt per cup of water should I use? How long should I leave them in it?

[marisa]

I had some problems with my eastern painteds shedding skin earlier in the summer. I added about a tablespoon of aquarium salt to a gallon of comfortably warm water, mixed it well so it dissolved, and put enough in a container to cover their shells. I kept them in it for 30 - 45 minutes and did this once a day for several days. Change the water each time they get a bath.

[scripta_elegans]

Thanks for the response! I'll try it!