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We've had our turtle for 5 years--since she was a tot. 25 gallon tank, heater with thermostat, filter, live plants, dock, uvb light and basking light, rocks on the floor of the tank. We feed her occasional chicken and fish scraps, turtle food with calcium, and chopped vegetables in a small feeding tank where we leave her for 30 minutes before putting her back into her home tank.

We haven't changed anything about her habitat, but today she spent most of the day trying to scratch her back on the skeleton of the dock, wedging herself between the suction cup arms of the dock and the glass. We finally put her on the floor and gently scratched her back with an old toothbrush. After getting back into the tank she sunbathed awhile and was back at the scratching again. She's not frantic about it, but I'm wondering if something might be wrong. Any ideas?

Never heard of that...

posting pictures of the turtles shell may help.

That does seem a bit odd. My gal sometimes scratches her shell on the centre brace of the tank, but usually only for a few minutes.

Scrubbing gently with a toothbrush is a good idea, sounds like it might have helped a bit.

A shell pic like Sin mentioned might help.

She may be trying to help her shell shed, i've heard before that they'll rub up against rocks, or other things to help the scutes come off.

Zepher30 wrote:She may be trying to help her shell shed, i've heard before that they'll rub up against rocks, or other things to help the scutes come off.

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe you should throw some rock into the tank that way she has more stuff to scratch off to help her out.

Snakes do the same thing to shed there skin. they will rub up against edges of rocks and brush and stuff like that to loosen the skin that way they can slide right out of it.

I brushed my turtles last night and a few small pieces of scute came off my Female River Cooter. I would suggest doing that.

Warm water, wet tooth brush, brush her gently.

Thanks so much for the ideas. I'm going to put a few large rocks in the tank and keep an eye on her. Today has been better, so maybe, she was just bored. I figure the rocks will supply entertainment either way.

WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF IT?

my turtle does the same thing on plants, floating dock, and the suction cup from it... heheheh i find it interesting it is only 1.6inches...still a babe

when i first got it from the wild, i cleaned it w/ a soft tooth brush... i guess it is trying to do the same thing...

try taking your turt out of the water untill its totally dry then use your finger nail to see it theres any loose schutes. i have had to do this on several occasions when my turts have been shedding. i also find rubbint the shell with iodine helps too. just to kill any germs or infection that might be there.