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I was washing him off under the sink and trying to get some of that VitaShell on him because I'm starting to notice his belly is getting a little.. ugly looking. Not like shellrot or anything but it looks kind of like everything is so bland compared to when he had neat little bluish markings the day I picked him up. (I've been thinking of feeding him tropical flakes to give him a more refined shell, but I am wary of side-effects.)

Anyways, it was pretty funny because when I was putting some of that stuff on him he shot his head out of his shell and bit my finger. It was kind of cute since he's so small but I'm worried he may grow to be aggresive.

Gee, now that I think about it I hope the faucet water didn't heat up or anything, I had to put some hot on it because it was freezing.. but I'm sure I would have felt it.

You think it was more of an 'I'm grumpy' kind of thing, a reaction, or could this be a bad sign?

Most people don't recommend using the vitashell. It doesn't do much for the turtle and is more hassle than it's worth. Watch your fingers from now on, lol!

Turtles bite, what can I tell ya. Mine do it all the time and it really does get more painful as they get bigger. Mine not only bite, but they'll grab on and shake back and forth, trying to bite a chunk off like a shark does. That makes it a bit worse..lol.

As for the Vitashell, don't use it. The shell needs oxygen and putting that stuff on is like using vaseline or something. It's all oily and the shell can't breathe. Fading/changing of color is normal.

Well, if you guys say so!

How can I insure he keeps a healthy shell? (BTW, I have and odd sulfablock type thing thats shaped like a turtle that I found in petsmart, and was wondering if any of you used it before? I think you actually put it in your tank and it works passively over like a month)

The turtle blocks don't do anything either. It can actually cause your turtle to be resistant to it over time. Just another thing I wouldn't use.

To ensure a healthy shell, make sure that your turt is getting the necessary UVB light, make sure he is basking, proper diet, and correct water and basking temps. With everything done correctly, then there shouldn't be a reason to worry!

Just to add to the good advice above... you should also make sure your water quality is as good as possible and regularly check for pits or scratches on the shell.

What do you mean by bluish markings on the plastron? The Vitashell will form a coating over time and will not let your turtle's shell breathe...

most turts will take a chunk out of ya if given the chance. if you dangel your finger in front of them ( even if it is not on purpas) they will take a little nip. aloways take caution when handalingyour turt. when it grows up it can take a chunk out.

jenaero wrote:As for the Vitashell, don't use it. The shell needs oxygen and putting that stuff on is like using vaseline or something. It's all oily and the shell can't breathe. Fading/changing of color is normal.

In my experience, Vitashell makes my RES's water cloudy so that's why I don't like to use it. Although, I do like using it on my hands when I have to wash them frequently! Makes my hands nice & soft.

I agree with the statement regarding shell color changes. Just like people, all turtles have different colorings on their shells. And they will change in appearance as they age. It's normal.

fish21 wrote:most turts will take a chunk out of ya if given the chance. if you dangel your finger in front of them ( even if it is not on purpas) they will take a little nip. aloways take caution when handalingyour turt. when it grows up it can take a chunk out.

I had hoped he would be a little more.. accustomed. I put my fingers in his tank all the time and he just brushes up on them. The only times he bit me otherwise is when I handfeed him pellets and he bites really softly because he knows its me.