General Care Discussion :: Pink color?

[kikicool]

I read on the caresheets that pink could be a sign of blood poisoning. Well I took the babes out today, and noticed a *slight* pink tint on Herman's skin. Not all the skin...just the area where his legs come in and out. You know? Like the part attached to the shell? Now, I'm not sure if it's always been like that, and I only noticed because I just read it was bad, or if its new.

Is it normal to be a bit pinkish there? I tried to take pix. Even learned how to turn flash off. But when I turn flash off, the whole picture blurs. GRRRR.

Also: speaking of dead skin (which I was, to myself)... Lily has been shedding fro some time. I turned down the heater to 75, it was up at 78 for some reason. Today I took her out and gave her a soft scrub. I used a toothbrush to VERY GENTLY massage the shedding areas, trying to loosen and remove some skin. I did so. But upon putting her back in water, I noticed that there was STILL a lot of skin in the unreachable areas--her neck, where it tucks in, and on the tops of her arms and legs. Should I let this be? Or remove it? Ach!!

Incidently, for those following my water testing saga... just changed 25% of the water. Nitrites are anow between 1-3 ... still not 0 though.

Could nitrites be making Herman pink? Could he be poisoned from them? Thanks for any advice.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I think their skin get like that when they bask for long periods of time.

[SpotsMama]

Hi. I've read of a couple of turtles whose skin shows slightly pink when they've been basking for awhile. Spot's will do that around his back legs. As soon as he starts moving around it goes back to beige.

No need to clean that skin with a toothbrush. Best to let it be because it's very delicate and you don't want any abrasions. The skin will come off on its own.

Sounds like your nitrites are headed in the right direction! Good for you!

[kikicool]

Phew. Glad to hear it!!! I just found out the food my dogs have been eating was recalled because of dogs dying from kidney failure, and then I thought poor Herman had septecemia. Ach!

I freelance. As you can porlly tell by all my posts... work is slow. Poor turtles. Now tehy get ALL my attention!!

[industrial_girl_2000]

Sheba gets very pink sometimes around her armpits & legs....it is totally normal as long as the redness goes away once they are swimming in the water again.

I remember reading that turts have poor blood circulation and that when they sit for long periods of time (basking), the blood just pools under the skin giving it a pink color. I guess it is a turtle's version of "varicose veins."