General Care Discussion :: Algae

[xnorb519]

One of my turtles had algae on his shell when I got him, and now I've noticed the other one has it on his shell. I'm sure it was spread from one to the other. Also, the algae has gotten on the rock in the tank and has made the water cloudy. I washed the tank yesterday, but the turtles still have it on them, and I'm sure the same cycle will continue. What could I do to get the algae entirely gone?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

im not sure,but i think i remember someone on this site saying that algae isnt harmful to turtles.someone with more experience will tell you how to get rid of it though,good luck.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Algae on the shells can be safely brushed away using an old toothbrush. Be gentle.....they can feel this brushing thru their shells.

You may have to do it periodically to keep it from coming back initially so make sure you keep that old toothbrush around for future cleanings!

Also, allowing your turtles to *completely* dry out daily (providing a basking area or letting them walk around for a few hours in a closed-off room in your house like the bathroom) helps a lot to prevent future algae.

FYI: algae does not spread from one turt to another.

[SpotsMama]

Does algae make water cloudy? I've heard of it coating things, like turtle shells or rocks, and I've heard of it turning water green, but I though cloudy was caused by other things than algae. Does anyone know?

[marisa]

I've seen water that's a cloudy green, and I've always thought that was algae. I've also seen water turn a cloudy but a milky color and this was not algae. The cycling of the tank could be one of the reasons for the latter.

[Muirner]

I have some algae in my tank, on my turtle dock, but it hasnt spread and my water is crystal clear. Water changes come in the form of evaporation, and the few gallons i remove when i vaccum.

[marisa]

There's algae on the edges of my turtle's basking areas as well as covering some of the rocks on the bottom and on the sides of the stock tanks. And, like your tank, the water is clear. I've see tanks where the water is like pea soup, though. They were mostly in full sun.