General Care Discussion :: #1 way you prevent soft shell?

[diamondshell]

What is the main thing you pay close attention to or you think is detrimental among the rest in order to prevent soft shell, aka a form of mbd? Interested to hear your thoughts.

[papoopeepoo]

varied diet with cuttlebone included.

[tammi]

Cuttle bone and the basking area

[gwennie]

It's a culmination of things really - proper basking & water temperatures to encourage basking, a basking area where the turtle can be completely dry, cuttle bone, proper diet.

Also - make sure there's nothing abrasive to the turtle's shell in the tank. Shell rot and infections are most commonly introduced when the shell gets abrasions on it and opens up to allow the condition to start.

[marisa]

In addition, your turtle needs a good UVB light for Vit D3 production---without adequate Vit D3, you can feed all the calcium you want, but it will not be metabolized.

[mikee]

Di-shell -- Mar-mod is correct! Use proper temps, food and lighting with plenty of calcium. m.