General Care Discussion :: Marks on shell *Updated*

[chrisinva]

I'm not sure what these marks are on my buddy Link's shell..
They run down his/her middle shell area...Is this the start of shedding or something bad??

[marisa]

Well, the seam (line in between the scutes) is rather wide, which means he's been growing rather quickly. What, how much and how often do you feed him?

The pattern looks like the scutes might be starting to lift in those places. The white area on the first scute (to the right) looks like it might be an air bubble.

If it doesn't look like the scutes are lifting there, is there anything he might have rubbed his carapace against in the tank?

[chrisinva]

I feed them Repto Min Baby pellets once a day..

It's possible he rubbed the heater,filter or their PVC home

What should I do?

[marisa]

Keep an eye on it to see if it changes or gets worse.

How many pellets do you give at a feeding? You don't feed any other foods?

[chrisinva]

I feed him about 6 to 8 of the tiny baby pellets daily and blueberries and mini krill (once) weekly

They also have anacharis and cuddlebone in the tank most of the time

[chrisinva]

My other turtle Cuff I noticed has similar marks...Should I cut back on how much I feed them?? take them to a herp vet??? Please help...

[chrisinva]

Cuff today










And this is Link today

[johnQguy]

At first I thought that was glare, but it looks like the dorsal line on the central carapace is just rubbed raw?

[chrisinva]

At first I thought that was glare, but it looks like the dorsal line on the central carapace is just rubbed raw?

I have a 4" diameter T shaped ABS hiding spot I reciently put in ...Is it possible they are rubbing it as they go through??? Should I remove it??



Also I reduced their feeding today...I only gave them 4 Baby Repto Min Pellets instead of 6 fearing I was overfeeding them

[SpotsMama]

I've seen photos of a lot of little bitty turtles like that with a pale stripe down the spine. Don't know if it's due to growth or shedding but it doesn't seem to be a problem. In the second set of photos it does like some of the scutes are starting to shed - you can see the whitish look and possibly some lifting around the edges.

If he just keeps getting whiter and whiter but doesn't shed, then come back here and show some more photos because he may have some fungus on his shell. Make sure he basks regularly under GOOD UVB light and that he completely dries out - top and bottom - when he does. That's required for good shell health.

Adorable little turtle by the way.

[ScrewZoo]

Those marks are scratches.

[chrisinva]

Thanks for the tips and compliments...I never get to see them bask up close..I have to look at them bask through this window in my kitchen...When I go into the room where they are they very rapidly dive into the water..

[ScrewZoo]

Theyll get use to you.. where u can watch them bask all the time..

[TheComputerGremlin]

Or they won't. I hardly ever see my turtle bask, my husband has seen much more basking than me. I think my turtle basks between 10 am and 2 pm, so I'm just not home.

It's a treat to see basking, but if I get too close to the tank or get noticed, back into the water!

[johnQguy]

About half of our turtles will remain basking if I approach the pond slowly. I can sit on the edge of the pond with them about 3 feet away from me.... but we have others that won't remain... no way, no how.