General Care Discussion :: New baby RES turtle shell? is this ok?

[tkim1989]

Hello. i have recently gotten my two RES turtles like about 10 weeks ago and they were both looking very healthy. but i've noticed something on my turtle's shell and its disturbing. i dunno if he is about to shed or not becuase he is still a baby but he always jambs himself between places so that could be the reason why his shell is looking so weird. but yea. he is very active and has a very healthy appetite and basks frequently. so hopefully this isn't bad. but i would like to know for sure. please let me know if there is something you think is wrong with him so i can bring him to a reptile specialist as soon as possible. thanks

-Taryn

[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/16662333@N03/3348110106/[/img]

[tkim1989]

uh ok. someone wanna tell me how to actually post a picture. lol. because i love these guys and i dont want them to hate me because i dont know how is wrong with them. lol. please from a loving pet owner help.

[blackforces get you]

i think i can help ya out but ill try my best. ok to post a picture go to the photo gallery and it should have a sticky on how to post one

anyway most importantly, i have a couple of questions. what does the shell look like? what are you feeding? how big is it? what do you see on the shell?

try your best to post a picture

[mackadocious]

i think your coding is right at first glance at least, but the address you used for the pic is wrong b/c it doesn't come up if i try to view it in another window

[tkim1989]

well the picture should cover what the shell looks like. and i'm feeding it the Repto mini (baby) because like they are still babies and like the turtle treats (krill) thing like once every two weeks and im trying to introduce them to some lettuce but they arent really liking it. so im gonna try again with some other stuff. they are about an inch.

[jameshermanto]

yeah its ok, but give him Vit E for shed. also good diet for less pyramidig. good healty shell

[marisa]

What to you is weird about the shell? What did the shell look like before that made it seem normal to you?

If you're talking about the rather wide seam (the darkish area in between the scutes), that's from growth. If you're talking about the raised spine that's whitish, it's not uncommon for hatchlings to have raised spines that are paler in color.

How many Reptomin Baby pellets do you give them at a feeding and how often are they fed? How much krill are they given? The diet really should be more varied.

If, by chance they're getting too much food, especially food that's high in protein, it will lead to too fast a growth and inevitable shell changes.

Do they have a UVB light and heat source to bask under?

[tkim1989]

ok thanks people. so i think he might just be shedding then. if it gets weirder ill take him to the vet to check him out. thanks again.

[mikee]

tk-89 -- Your turtle looks fine. I would stick to the rules of the road on temps, lights and filter and you should be ok. Do not over feed, watch diet and filtration. Another thing that new owners do is, take them out of the tank too ofter. Small turtles cool off quickley and tend to cause or speed up RI. Good Luck! m.