General Care Discussion

So i just recently bought a new baby RES, tank is as new as i can think and clean with no filter yet. Im getting it soon. But i JUST put the turtle in it's new tank though with the filter (the water is still clean though). She's been like this in the tank for a week now. I've been changing the water frequently as well and suddenly white substance developed on the sides of the tank and a little on her shell.

I was confused as into what it was or why it would be there. I've been constantly cleaning her and her shell is entirely clean at the moment. i have not put her back in the tank cause im afraid she'd get sick. So i have her right now in a bucket or warm water that i've been filtering myself.

I have 2 tanks for 2 RES, but at the moment while i'll be gone for the day i refuse to put her in the other tank since the other has become very territorial and almost tried biting her head off last time.

My tank is positioned in my room on a dresser right next to the other tank. They are both around 50 gallon tanks. The one that developed (which i believe looks like a moldy substance, and a bit smelly) sits closer to my window. I use to have a full cover over it till i just recently got rid of it. I do not use the light either since i have to go out and buy a new bulb.

Please explain or give advice as into what i should do with her for the time being and if this white substance is really mold. Since i found a little bit on her shell that i just got off. how harmful is it to the turtle . Is she still able to get it even in a different habitat (the storage bucket)

Happy Turtleing :mrgreen:

Welcome to the site! It most likely is hard water deposits. Can you post a picture of the shell? Can you also post a picture of your setup? It'll help us guide you on how to arrange your tank and what accessories you might need.

This is how they are set up next to each other in my room. the window where the shades are always up are to the of it: http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... 124227.jpg

Inside of the tank: http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... 124232.jpg
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... 124230.jpg

This is the actual tank. No Turtle in it. i haven't touched it since it started developing the white stuff on the glass so the water is low. and i just re cleaned the filter so thats running again. When i had her in there at first all she started to do was just sit up on the dock. Normally she would float around more. But i really have not touched it since i wasn't sure what i should do with it.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... 124228.jpg

Now, I said before that i cleaned most of it off of her already so i don't have a better picture of when it first appeared.These are little bits of left overs after it though that i could get. But it looked like a white powdery type substance. How should i get the rest off. As you can see, the lighter parts are the areas i couldn't completely clean. Warm water and a tooth brush aren't enough anymore. I'm hoping it'll just shed those scales to get rid of it soon if she can. The bottom end of her shell though is now spotless. It's just the top.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... 124254.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... 124244.jpg

The white at the end of the scale wasn't white like that so i wasn't sure if it was just shedding or something

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... 124240.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... 124259.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... 124263.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... 124251.jpg

Sorry for all the pictures

From the pictures, the aquarium and equipment look like it's growing mold and mildew. Is there a lot of water splashing from the filter?

I'm not certain what's wrong with the turtles shell. She does need a good shed, as it looks like she is retaining some scutes. She might be fed too much, so you might want to post about her diet.

You should not put hatchlings with bigger turtles, even under supervision. When they are closer in size or older would be more appropriate. Territorial issues almost never go away and only escalate.

To get an approximate measurement of your tank volume, multiply the length, width and height (in inches) and divide by 231. That's how many gallons the tank is.

Shell fungus is a particularly difficult condition to get rid of. It might not be related to the mold/mildew in your tank, but the conditions in your tank might make it favorable for it to thrive.

I'd try using a soft new toothbrush to see if it's gently rub off.

I have two Turtles: Yui ( the one i'm asking about the tank and shell) and Bob (its ok to laugh at the names people do

)

Ok, thank you, i will measure the tank. Like i said its now been at least over a week since i touched it except for the filter which i just recently cleaned. I'm planning on giving the entire tank a good cleaning outside down to, well everything.

I need a new filter which I'm aware of for Yui cause the one i have now doesn't run well with the size tank i have. I want to buy the same filter i have for Bob, for Yui since both their tanks are very close to the same size.

I was confused because i was running Yui's tank the same way as Bob's and his tank has been fine and clean. It's always been fine for a couple years now unlike Yui's tank. i just was looking at the heater in it yesterday and apparently its broken. I don't know how this all happened at once but it did.

I feed them both the same way except:

Yui: Is fed "Reptomin" from Tetra fauna and "freeze dried river shrimp" from Fluker's
Bob: Likes "Reptomin" but barely shrimp. My brother has tried feeding it blood worm without me knowing, he feeds it to his fish to. My brother said he likes it.

I have yet to try feeding lettuce to Yui but i know for a fact Bob does not like his veggies, ha. I've tried laying it on the dock and laying it in the water, he lets it sit there and i end up having to take it out myself later.

Shopping list:
New Filter
New heater

Anything else?

Now the terms of the territorial subject. When i first received Bob back in probably 06' or 05', he had a younger brother, so to say from the teacher i had got them from. I had them in the same tank and they got along. I do not know if they were put in separately though prior to before i got them. But i assume they were always together if they always got along. The younger brother died from a sickness that i did not know he had when i had got him. So bob has been left in the tank solo for around 4 or 5 years. Ever since he's become territorial and because of that i don't believe it would be possible if it was another turtle besides his younger brother.

I will check to see if the rest will rub off. If not i'll have to find some other way to clean her shell better. A family friend had given me a shell hardener cream which was working nicely and keeping the shell nice as well, i don't have anymore though.

Feed back?

The shell hardening cream can trap bacteria in the shell. We don't recommend it's use. I would clean everything with white vinegar and water then let it dry in the sun including the filter. For the turtle I would scrub his shell gently with a toothbrush. He really does need veggies in his diet. He's being fed to much protein which can also cause shell problems. Try feeding the turtles pellets only 3 times a week, what would fit in his head if it was empty (don't include his neck). On the other days offer only veggies. My turtle loves red leaf lettuce. Any leafy greens except spinach. You can also try water plants like anacharis. You can just leave that in his tank until he eats it. Eventually he will eat his veggies when he gets hungry enough. The shrimp, bloodworms, ect. should only be used as a rare treat. They do need proper lighting to shed. They will need a basking bulb for heat and a UVB bulb for UVB. Don't count on the sun light coming through the window. The UVB will not go through the glass. With a cut down on protein, the addition of veggies and proper lighting he should shed his retained scutes. Shedding the scutes is improtant so a fungus or bacterial infection does not set in. Good Luck!

Thank you so much for the advice. my looking for a website with information on my RES has finally been accomplished x-X

General Care Discussion :: WHITE POWDERY LOOKING SUBSTANCE ON TURTLE OUT OF NO WERE!?

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