General Care Discussion :: ? filmy stuff under and on neck

[maryR]

Hey today I noticed while turts were swimming a really light filmy like floaty stuff on the neck area pics dont show it it is so light and when on dock you cant see it either. ? is are the skins shedding or could it be fungus? Never saw fungus just read but mostly about on shells. Anyone?

[BullDog]

If you can't see it when your turt is dry, it is most likely the skin shedding.
Here's a good pic of shedding:
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13882

Does it look something like this?

What is the water and basking temps? High temps can cause excessive shedding.

[maryR]

This is exactly what it looks like!! my turts are 2 inches and the temp is right about 80, Basking is 90 do you think I should lower water temp?
Or do they normally shed as they grow anyways? They have grown alot since I got them in march 08 the smallest was about 1 inch and a half...So I guess this is ok? I put sea salt in water to prevent fungus and I just couldnt believe it was fungus. How much salt per gallon do most people use? I only put a teaspoon per 10 gallon amount of water. thanks, Mary

[BullDog]

For turtles under a year old, 80 isn't too bad. It's a tad on the warm side, but 78-80 is fine. They do shed as they grow.

What is their diet like? 1/2" in a month and a half seems like some fast growth.

As for the salt, I'm not sure, since I've never used it. You'll have to wait until someone who has experience with it to answer that one

[Nettle]

If your turtle is under 4 inches, water should be at 78 degrees, if they are over 4 inches then it should be at 75 degrees. The basking temp is fine. Shedding skin is normal, just like shedding scutes.

I've never heard of putting salt in the tank to prevent fungi. It doesn't seem like a good idea because it would get in their eyes and be an irritant, but then again I have no idea.

[maryR]

The diet is: Reptomin (Baby) to fill heads/ each day 1 or 2 X's a day.
the plant that begins with an A like Anacharis?? everyother day, then baby romaine or dandilion opposite days, cuttlebone all the time in small pieces/
1 x a week a little dried shrimp(thats what the store fed them so I use as a treat/ And baby small snails on the water plant. trying carrot but they dont eat much. tried sweet potatoe and they said NO WAY!! LOL thinking of maybe a lil apple?? But not sure...

[maryR]

No half an inch in almost 3 months. First of March, So all of March, April, And now May, Is that better? I read 1 tablespoon sea salt per 10 gallons H20/Hmm
what cha all think? Should I lower heat of H20 to 78 even? Lights change it afraid to go lower caz of no light in nighttime. Oh gosh am I crazy?? They r just babies, And I'm a Gramma baby caretaking freak.