General Care Discussion :: Biting her own legs? [VIDEO]

[tringlee55]

I have read that this behaviour could happen due to an infection or shedding...


I'm attaching a video:

[steve]

Maybe some shedding, just check on it to make sure she's not injuring herself.

[Tampa Bay Turtle Fan]

Yes sorta odd but if you notice her repeated target every time except for the one time was her upper left arm. The one time was on her upper left arm. I agree on possibly a final step of shedding but something in her upper right arm seems to be bothering her for sure. A very close visual look at her upper right arm if she does not get snappy outside the tank may determine the cause (possibly inside the tank to) for some remaining shed and signs of injury or swelling.

[tringlee55]

Thanks for the answers. I have just taken a look at her arm, specially the left one, and I don't see any injury, however she continues biting herself, today I saw her doing it again.

She went through shell shedding and ended the process a couple of months ago, so, it could be possible to be shedding skin now? it is not something that happens simultaneously (shell + skin)?

[steve]

My male RES does something similar... he's always been a bitey type. He usually only does it at night.. does she bite other things in the tank?

[tringlee55]

My male RES does something similar... he's always been a bitey type. He usually only does it at night.. does she bite other things in the tank?

Now that you mention it... yes, she tends to bite the aquatic plants too (she always bites underwater, never out of the aquarium).

Maybe she needs something to bite? I put on the aquarium one of those turtle-shaped pieces of calcium but I think that she didn't bite it at all.

[steve]

Some bite more than others, so I think it may just be that. The worrisome things about those white turtles is whatever medications/chemicals might be in them.

[Tampa Bay Turtle Fan]

It is not to commonly seen on the biting and your turtle child seemed to pick up a bad habit somewhere. I also have mixed feelings at least where turtles and tortoises are concerned with such items as well in regards to the anatomy as well as what steve stated on " medications/chemicals ". Many reptiles need calcium yes but on the same note, to much calcium leads to bad areas. Your turtle has no interest in it though.