General Care Discussion :: hard spot on turtle head

[timmyng531]

http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=12ei3.jpg

http://img470.imageshack.us/my.php?image=123tv0.jpg

http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=282wt3.jpg


i just noticed this today, i look at my turtle everyday, so this is recent.
it feels hardened, while the rest of the head is soft. any ideas of what this is?

[Bascomb]

timmyng531 -- I have never had a turtle that had a bump on it's head, however, I have some extra bumbs and things that other people don't have. If he did not bump it I think you will be okay. His parents or one of his parents may have had a bump. The only other thing is if it is getting too much calcium. That is only a guess. I would not worry about it. But it gets much worse, I would take him to a vet. b.

[timmyng531]

actually, i did have a piece of cuttlebone floating in there for a few weeks.
it was the first time i gave it to the turtle...

[TurtleObsession28]

maybe his or her brain is having a problem? its very very unlikly, just a guess

[timmyng531]

"Skin Shedding

Shedding is natural and normal for RES. Shedding skin has a thin, wispy and translucent appearance. Most often it is around the neck and the front and rear limbs. It is very easily visible underwater. Excessive shedding is not normal and is usually the result of water temperatures being too high, high protein diets, inadequate basking and fast growth. It could be a symptom of poor water quality or a developing infection. Proper diet and water conditions should be introduced to help avoid this. "

from the health section...perhaps my turtle is shedding some skin on its neck...

[SpotsMama]

Cuttlebone is ok - good in fact. He's not having a problem with too much calcium. He needs his calciium!

He may be shedding skin but that's not what's caused the spot on his head.

It looks like an injury to me. Do you see in pictures one and three how there's a very small pointy scute right behind his head? That point may be rubbing against his head when he pulls it in and out of his shell. You can put a little neosporin on it with a q tip and keep your turtle out of the water for about 20 minutes to let the medicine work and see if that helps. Hopefully he'll shed that pointy scute pretty soon.

[timmyng531]

mmm..i see,....it does bask for hours straight, so i will definatly try that.

[Blue Flamingo]

How close are his lamps. Maybe he got burned by the bulb. Cause it looks kinda like a burn scab to me.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Move your basking lamp a little farther away...it looks like a burn mark.

Other than that, your turtle looks very good!

[timmyng531]

its in a bathtub outside the house, there are no lights..

sunburn in one spot?i doubt

[Bascomb]

timmyng531 -- What kind of heater do you have -- What kind of filter do you have -- b.

[timmyng531]

i live in hawaii, air temp is usally high seventies low eighties, higher in summer..., i dont think i need a water heater, i built a five gallon bio filter, i think its like 130gph.

water quality is pristine; the tub has been leaking, so until i get it fixed, im basically refilling it[essentially partial water changes everyday]/
--i guess next time i post, i should include all this info

[steve]

A few months ago my female RES had some hard skin next to her arm but it disappeared fairly quickly. Just keep an eye on it...

[marisa]

Does that nuchal scute (the one behind the head) look like it's going to shed any time soon? It's extended and looks like it's pointing downward in the last pic. Your turtle's head could be rubbing it on that hard spot causing the skin there to harden (like a callus). Nice head markings btw.

Don't worry about your turtle getting too much calcium from cuttlebone...