General Care Discussion :: baby RES with white shell?

[H15A5H1]

This is a photo of my cousin's baby RES. As you can see, the color of its shell isn't the typical green that they are supposed to have.

The turtle is fine and eats regularly, basks everyday, and is extremely energetic. I dont think it is shell rot, the shell does not have any pungent odor at all.

What is causing its shell to become white??
Is it harmful? How do i get rid of it??

[turtle_nz]

looks exactly like my turtles shell.. mines just not that bad..
vet here told me its decalcification..

[industrial_girl_2000]

My RES's shell turns white periodically because of all the calcium I put in her water. Don't worry, this isn't harmful to them. It will eventually peel off, revealing a nice green layer underneath. Turtles' shells grow from the inside out (in layers), so it is only a matter of time before the white layer flakes/peels off.

If the shell peels & reveals a *gray* color underneath, that is a major reason for concern.

You can't force the peeling. It just takes time & patience & lots of basking!

[H15A5H1]

he has grown at least half an inch since, and his shell is still white

[steve]

What about the scutes on the plastron (the shell on the bottom)?

[H15A5H1]

yes, the bottom of his shell is also white

[turtle_nz]

see this is mine? looks the same to me.. just not as bad and his shell is the same underneath

[flutterby]

Actually they look different. Yours looks more like it was scraped off, his looks like it was born that way. Almost like its a genetic mutation or something.

[turtle_nz]

i guess ur right...
lol
odd how two complaints that sound the same look diff when you compare them closer up..

[industrial_girl_2000]

Unfortunately the white layer will never actually "turn" green again. What happens is that the turtle has to grow & shed his shell. The shell material is kinda like your fingernail.....if you damage your fingernail you just have to wait till it grows out to look normal again. Unfortunately this can take years for a turtle since their metabolism is just so darn slow. The good thing is that his shell does not look gray in the picture.

As long as this turtle is receiving the proper care (good basking light, heated water, variety of food, clean water, calcium), he should be able to recover eventually, but it could take many years. I see from your picture that he has grown since you got him & in between some of the scutes I see dark green areas. The turtles "stretch" when they grow and the way the shell looks inbetween the scutes (as they grow) is a good indicator of how they are doing & if they can ever grow out of a shell problem.

On the other hand, Turtle_nz's turtle looks like he is getting ready to shed his scutes at some point in the future. That is a very normal thing. The layers of shell do not last forever & will eventually get old & peel off. Before they peel the scutes do turn white as in the picture.

Hope that helps! Just be patient & give the turt some TLC.