General Care Discussion :: Spots on my new turtle

[Doc_Moore_J]

As requested by another member. Here are a couple pictures of my turtle close up. He has some reddish brown patches on his back, tummy, and under his hood. Any idea what this is? I assumed it was algae cause the tank I got him in was full of it. I was able to scrape off some with my thumbnail, but did not want to hurt him and did not know how hard I can scratch his shell (are they sensitive?). I was hoping it would resolve after putting him in a clean tank. I would be pretty bummed out if my new little buddy was sick


tummy and hood


back

[megcornell]

It certainly looks like some sort of film to me. It may be a red brown algae.
If you can, gently brush it off with an old toothbrush. I'd start using some hibiclens on the shell just in case its something more serious.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Yes, their shells are very sensitive, so use a SOFT toothbrush and see if it comes off using some warm (to the turtle) water. Some of them look like they could be scratches that have healed over, was he in a tank with a hard rock or a lot of other turtles?

[Tenodera]

What's his behaviour like? Is he always swimming or beggin? Or does he acts lazy and tired?

[marisa]

I've seen this on a few other shells, and the turtles that had it were otherwise healthy. On the carapace, it looks like some debris has dried on the shell. You might put a little white vinegar on a q-tip and rub some of those areas to see if anything comes off. If he was living in a tank with poor water quality (you said there had been a lot of algae?), it's probably from that.

[BullDog]

Sorry to freak you out like that It just looked really red in the other pic. ^^'
In these ones, especially of the carapace, it looks much more brown, most likely algae.

[Doc_Moore_J]

Bulldog, no reason to apologize. I appreciate you looking out for me. I will try the vinegar q-tip idea to see if I can get some more off. Yes, the place I got him, and partially why I picked him up was filthy, they had about 15 RES in a tank not much larger than my own, even shallower. Many rocks, many turtles. Another one in particular had green algae all over him, the one I took looked to be about the healthiest, and I wanted to give him a chance and a good home. As far as his behavior goes, he seems totally healthy, very active, swims throughout the whole tank, naps, eats good.

[Bascomb]

Doc - m -- You may try this. Use warm salty water and brush it off with a soft toothbrush. Regular table salt as strong as you can get it and do it quick at they don't like it one bit. After brushing him off let him dry completely and then wash him off. If the very red spots are rust and the lighter brown is fungus and or algae it will help. I have done this to mine and make sure you hold them in the palm of your hand as they like the support. Good Luck