General Care Discussion :: broken shell

[threshold]

ok i can get pics for a few days but this is to give you an idea of what i mean...i came home from work today and found my turtle with a broken shell...she has completely broken off the bit i have circled...what i need to know is do i need to do anything to it? and will it grow back?
****NOTE THIS IS AN OLD PICTURE NOT ONE OF THE BROKEN SHEL****

[SpotsMama]

Here's some very good advice:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4519

If the colors are true on the photo above, that shell doesn't look healthy. With the next set of photos, let us know if the colors are showing true on the computer screen.

[threshold]

thanks for that thread..what doesnt look healthy?..nothings soft smelly or fungi like and shes starting to shed...that photo is around 3 months old

[TheComputerGremlin]

I think the picture you posted has some minor shell rot of some type. The early stages aren't smelly or soft, and can usually be fixed through some dry docking and a good shed. What is your basking area like? Shell rot is usually caused by a lack of good basking. Could you post pictures? We'd love to take a look and help you out.

As for the missing end scute, as long as no blood was involved, it should be fine and hopefully a new one will grow back in its place.

[marisa]

Is the bone exposed? I have a turtle that I received with two marginal scutes broken and bone exposed. They have not changed in the time I have had the turtle, but haven't gotten any worse.

A pic would be good when you can get one.

That nuchal scute (the one behind the neck) is very pointy. I can also see the layers of scutes that have built up on either side of it.

The pattern of white areas on the carapace (except for that one very white area on the scute behind the nuchal scute) looks like they may be lifting. Your turtle needs to shed. When did your RES shed last?

Does your turtle bask under proper lighting (UVB and heat lights)?

I reread your last response. If that pic is 3 months old, what does the shell look like now?

[threshold]

the shell now is similer to that but the discouloured areas are smaller...the ATBA is fine have my UVB light heat lamp and she uses it very often...there was no blood....her scutes are just starting to lift over the last few days so she will be shedding over the next few weeks im guessing.

Cheers Danny