General Care Discussion :: Spots on shell

[happycamper]

My turtle has recently gotten these strange spots on this shell and I am not clear on where they came from. He has optimal home made food, a supreme basking area and a strong filtration system. What could be causing the issue in this picture and how do I treat it?

[steve]

They look like breaches in the shell and the white is an exposed bone layer. I see some older, healed pits... how long have you had this turtle?

[happycamper]

I have had him about a year. Not sure what his life was like before I got him, but I have never seen any white spots like this before. Is it really bone?? They are barely pitted, you can hardly feel it when you run your finger over them. Why would this happen? He basks all the time, has all the necessary lighting and whatnot.

[steve]

It's probably a thin bone layer. When my RES had it in a tiny spot, it came off and was fleshy with a little blood underneath it. After that, it would darken, fill in and harden. Why it happens... I don't know. In my situation, irregular shedding and retained scutes did a number on my girls shell. Your RES looks pretty good, I could only guess it banged into something or rubbed against something abrasive.

[sagoy]

That's scary, something like that happening beyond our control. At least it heals.

[marisa]

That doesn't look very deep to me... My RES once had a few spots similar to that and they disappeared when he shed.

[happycamper]

Okay, thanks for the info.

[lileeli]

so those spots will heal by itself? or does anything have to be applied on it?

[happycamper]

The spots did heal by themselves

[lileeli]

did you give them extra calcium and uvb to help it along?

[happycamper]

He eats turtle shots with added calcium, and basks under his UVB all the time. So yeah, I am sure that helped!

[lileeli]

thanks! ^-^ one of my cousin's turtles look like he has the same things so this is most helpful!