hey everybody,
i can't understand why, but my RES is in desperate need of a shed, yet he doesn't shed. you can see the layers of retained scutes, and there are quite a few that look like they're ready to come off, but i don't think any of them have. i give him small pieces of cuttlebone every couple of days (with the back peeled off), i've given him blueberries, he has proper lighting, he basks and he is normal otherwise. i don't know what else to do. should i take him to the vet? i will post some pictures tomorrow to give you all a better look. he is basking right now and i'd rather not disturb him, since he'll probably jump in the water anyway. i also answered all the urgent care questions below. thanks in advance for your help!
How big is your turtle? about 5 inches
How long have you had it? 2 years
What is the water temperature? 75
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? around 19 gallons maybe ( he's in a 20 gallon tank... i know that is too small don't yell at me!! i'm in the process of rearranging the apartment to make room for his 75 gallon)
Are you using a water conditioner? yes reptisafe
Are you using any filtration? yes
What is the basking temperature? 88
Is there a basking light? yes a 60 watt incandescent
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? egg crate and a sterilite container, it's an ATBA
Is there a UVB light? yes Reptiglo 5.0 26 watt.... and there isn't a screen covering where the lights are, so none of the rays are obstructed.
What have you been trying to feed it? lately only pellets, romaine lettuce, blueberries, carrots and cuttlebone (on a schedule of course)
When was the last time your turtle ate? this morning he had some pellets
How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 20 gallon tank ... soon to be 75 gallons
Is the tank near a window? no
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? moderate activity
Have you read the Basic Care section? yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? yes
Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? everything is normal...except for the shedding issue
