General Care Discussion :: are they shedding scutes? (pic)

[industrial_girl_2000]

I think size does matter, and if a really small hatchling was shedding I would wonder what was going on...

A long time ago, my 2" painted turt shed after I had her for about 4 months. Her shell turned almost white (looked like air was under the scutes), and the scutes started to peel up on the sides. So they can be very small & still shed.

Of course, the term "very small" is relative for me since my big baby is 11 inches long...! LOL!

[marisa]

For me too. I am thinking of some of the hatchings that some people here have that they say are an inch or a little over.

[turrbee]

maybe it's just what the shell looks like when they are basking?
i took them out last time and took a couple of pix
they didnt seem to have a "shedding scutes" shell.

[industrial_girl_2000]

They look good in that 2nd set of pics that you posted.

[marisa]

If they're basking for a while and the edges of the scutes are getting loose, it can look like the very first picture you posted. If you took them out of the water for the most recent pics, and they aren't fully dry, the roughness of the scutes wouldn't really show. They do look OK in your latest pic (seams look a little wide, but that's from growing).

[turrbee]

If they're basking for a while and the edges of the scutes are getting loose, it can look like the very first picture you posted. If you took them out of the water for the most recent pics, and they aren't fully dry, the roughness of the scutes wouldn't really show. They do look OK in your latest pic (seams look a little wide, but that's from growing).

i didnt even notice that!!

thanks!! industrial_girl_2000 & marisa
good to know they are fine