General Care Discussion :: Whats that stuff?!

[haimish321]

My turtles bask for about 8 hrs. One of them has this white stuff on his shell. What is it. I CANT AFFORD A VET BEACAUSE PARENTS FIND IT TOO EXPENSIVE. ALL THE VETS HERE ARE ABOUT 100 DOLLARS. TOO YOUNG FOR JOB 15. Well my turt has a little white stuff on his shell between his scute. My parents wont buy Sulfa Dip. It wont come off it brushed. Please help

[jenaero]

A photo would help. Could be something in the water, could be something more serious. Can you get a few good photos?

[ellman605]

I'm 15 and have a job, though I'm quitting in 2 weeks for school. You just have to look around and ask.

Pictures would definitely help everyone.

[shelach]

Do you treat your turtles water?
it could be a mineral build up from stuff in your tap water.
8 hrs is a long time to bask i think... Make sure the water isn't to cold or he wont want to go in. and dont guess at the temp. you need a $2 thermometer from the pet store.

Maybe instead of asking your parents for a vet trip, or a sulfur dip, ask them for a job or something you could do in trade for these supplies. Tell them your trying to be a responsible parent to your RES. (but dont make your RES their responsibility)

[SpotsMama]

Yes Pictures would be very helpful. There are just too many possibilities to say what it is without seeing it. It could be normal and harmless or it could be a problem. Take the picture of the shell when it's dry, not wet.

While you are at it, why don't you provide pictures of both turtles.

[Safdar]

Problems with shell is hard to diagnose without a picture

[Tenodera]

It can be of the following things

Scute Shedding : GOOD. It means your turtle is shedding the plates on his shell and is growing.

Mineral Deposits: NO IMMEDIATE DANGER. It means your water is very hard and the stuff in the water is drying and appearing on your turtle's shell.

Shell Rot: VERY VERY BAD. You gotta take him to the vet...

[marisa]

As mentioned, pictures of the shell dry would be very helpful...

[haimish321]

The first one is closer, and the second if further.

[haimish321]

WE DONT HAVE HARD WATER!!!!!!!!!!

[steve]

Is the shell dry in that last photo? Is your turtle basking and does it have a UVB light? Does it bask for 8 hours straight?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

To me it looks like fungus of some sort IMO, but I dont think they bask for 8 hours..let alone one - didnt you say in your other post that you cant get them to bask?

It would be good if you would look at the advice given there.

[haimish321]

Well now they dont ever since they got a new basking home

[Tenodera]

I saw your basking spot, and sorry to say this, isn't very suitable for basking.

[haimish321]

I JUST CAUGTH THEM BASKING, THEY DIDNT FOR ABOUT 15 DAYS DUE TO THE REDESIGNING. THE STUFF BARELY COMES OFF WHEN I SCRATCH IT REALLY HARD WITH MY NAILS.