General Care Discussion :: Concerned about Shedding

[Poshcat]

Hi there

I have read a few threads about shedding. I have recently (in the last week) have purchased for my son two RES (m&f). They are both shedding and, especially the female, don't look too healthy. I will try and attach some photos (A bit new to all this!).

Can anyone help me in what is the best thing I can do for them?

Female: Patten



Male: Exee


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[Poshcat]

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[missibsu]

Normal shedding is something that just has to run its course. It will take some time. What you don't want to see is continuous shedding. It could be a sign that it is a fungus and not really shedding. It can also be caused by keeping water temps too high. The shell under the sheding should look healthy and new as well, it's hard to tell by the pics that you posted.

[marisa]

In the large pic of the female, the shell looks like it's showing the effects of rather poor living conditions (the male's is probably similar, although with the small pic, it's really hard to see). The shell is hard, even where the areas are white? It would be good if you got a nice soft brush and cloth and did a bit of gentle shell cleaning---remove the algae and see if the white that's under the right marginal scutes comes off. If they were living in hard water, the white could just be mineral deposits. You could also try gently rubbing the area with a bit of white vinegar on a q-tip---if it starts to come off, it's mineral deposits. Will those scutes that are lifting come off? If you try to remove them and there's resistance, just leave them.

You could also give them a bath in aquarium salt and water, it won't hurt them, and would help if they had any minor fungus.

Can you post another pic of the shell dry after you've cleaned it?

If they weren't receiving great care before you got them, it just make take time in an improved habitat and with a better diet for their shells to improve.

[steve]

My turtles have something similar that I suspect to be a fungal infection. Test results were negative, but the white areas had stopped spreading before the test, so what ever it was is not longer active. It also penetrated a couple thin layers of scutes, so it will need a few sheds.

Do they have a basking area/filtration/calcium/UVB ?

[Poshcat]

They were in shocking conditions when I first saw them. Their tank was green. They had pebbles/gravel on the bottom of their tank and the owner told me to feed them raw meat! Since being on this site I have read quite a bit and hopefully improved their tank and feeding conditions. Though they are reluctant in eating at them moment, especial veges. I have also put a calcuim block in their tank and two days later it is almost gone! I am having a few problems with the tank being a bit cloudy.

I will go and get a soft toothbrush and some q-tips and do as you suggested. They don't seem to be into basking, so I have taken them outside in the sunshine to dry out a bit. The male loves it, a great explorer but the female is timid.

Thank you for all your help. I want to do my best for these little guys. The are great.

[steve]

For calcium, you can stop using the calcium block. Use a very good pellet (many of use ReptoMin), they normally contain 2% calcium. You can also buy a powder supplement like Rep-Cal Calcium. By now, you can be offering some veggies... red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce and dandelion leaves are good sources of calcium. You can also use cuttlebone, but you need to remove the hard backing before giving it to your turtles.

[kikicool]

Hey, thanks Poshcat. I was trying to get a picture of my turts shell to post the same question, but it kept coming out just as a flash. One of mione has a similar thing, although very minimal, just one or two spots. You think its fungal? should I do a sulfabath?

My turts never seem to shed. The scutes don't come off, although they look loose. My water is at 77 degrees. Can that cause this? Which step do you guys advise first:

1. lowering temp
2. vinegar/qtip (it won't come off, though, it seems to be under a layer of dead skin)
3. fungus bath thing

Thanks!

[grey goose]

I can't see how a turt can develop shell rot or fungal infection except thru poor care. If you have a good basking area, do water changes every two weeks and take care of your filter (once a month for me) all should be well, skin and shell wise. The pic looks to me like the Ph is too low, (too acidic?) although I've never experienced this my self, there is stuff you can use to raise the Ph, if that is the problem. Get a test kit to be sure.
Once in a while, I would notice little white spots on my guys shells, but they go away after a a few days. I'm not sure, but I think it's from them banging into things in the tank, and only show up under the lights. Also my Vet told me to never try to pick or pull off the shedding scutes, let them come off on their own.....

[Poshcat]

I have cleaned both turtles' shells with white vinger. Both have the white spotted areas. The female had shed a few scutes, though when I have dry docked her the shell is grey (though it looks healthy when wet). I have started to dry dock both turtles for about 1/2 hour, as neither are basking.

How would I go about doing a fungal bath? Or should I take them to the vet and get them checked out? They are very active in their tank, chasing each other around.
Not into eating much though. Is this normal? (the guppies have all disappeared! I am assuming the RES ate them! Though I am not completely sure - the convicts could have eaten them). They have red lettuce in the water, which seems they are nibbling at.

Thanks ?

[industrial_girl_2000]

I have cleaned both turtles' shells with white vinger. Both have the white spotted areas. The female had shed a few scutes, though when I have dry docked her the shell is grey (though it looks healthy when wet). I have started to dry dock both turtles for about 1/2 hour, as neither are basking.

How would I go about doing a fungal bath? Or should I take them to the vet and get them checked out? They are very active in their tank, chasing each other around.
Not into eating much though. Is this normal? (the guppies have all disappeared! I am assuming the RES ate them! Though I am not completely sure - the convicts could have eaten them). They have red lettuce in the water, which seems they are nibbling at.

Thanks ?

The white spotting in your pics is totally normal. You don't need to try to clean it off or give fungal baths. What happens is that the turtle shell grows from the inside out (in layers) and is made from a material very similar to your fingernails. Like your fingernails, it doesn't last forever, is porous, and can get stains (which is what I think happened based on your pic....hard water can stain the shell gray). My turtle has had hard water stains on her shell for as long as I can remember (I have had her for 17 yrs.), but eventually she peels, revealing a gorgeous perfect dark coppery color shell. It stays perfect & spotless for about 6 months, then the cycle starts anew.

So although the turts might not look pretty for a while, it is normal for them.

[marisa]

I don't think the white spots on the shell are totally normal, but just are the result of the poor care they were receiving until you got them. With the improved care you're giving them, the shells should improve with time. If they liked the calcium block, get some cuttlebone for them. Take off the hard backing, break off a few head-sized pieces and leave them in the tank for them to nibble on. Replace them when they're gone.

You could try an aquarium salt bath once a day for several days to see if this helps their shells.

What are they getting besides fish and guppies? Try some live earthworms (a couple each at a feeding). For plant matter, try dandelions as well as some aquatic plants like anachris for them to nibble on.

[Poshcat]

An update on our two RES. Exee has almost totally shed her shell! leaving her shell grey. Patten, after he was cleaned, also had white over his shell. He is now starting to shed. They both love their turtle pellets. Still not into their greens.



Exee: she is not keen to be photographed, and likes to hide when outside, hence I placed her in a box and took some photos. She still has some front scutes and you can see some lifting.





This is Patten. Most of the algae has been taken off.



Patten and our son, Ben.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Oh my gosh! He looks so much better after shedding. Don't worry about the white/grayish film that is left after the scutes peel off....that will come off after a while (I'm going thru that with my Sheba right now too!). Both shells look A LOT better. You have done a really nice job with them & they are thriving! Your son is very cute too!

[CountryGirl68]

Very nice pictures. Both turtles are looking good!