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While I was in the pet store the other day I was looking @ some of the ingredients for different types of shell care products and bacteria/microbial infection treatments and noticed that many of the organic types were tea tree oil and other tea tree extract based...........So my question to you all as a new owner is ..... is tea tree oil once diluted a good maintence item for my Mr. Scratch's shell and limbs since he was just purchased about a week ago from a pet store and seems to be not in the best of health-some broken claws- wasn't keep at the proper temp in the store- bad diet and definate uvb deprevation.....? I've had the claws looked @ and treated and purchased an amazing set-up with all the proper water levels and temps, uva and b lighting, filteration, submer heating, basking lamps with the proper temps, dry exploration areas, swimming areas, proper diet and a good caretaker. Is this a good practice to help return him to health or just me being ocd about wanting him to have the best in care?
And experts you may begin you deliberation!

Maintaining a good turtle habitat and proper foods (as listed in the stickies) should be enough to keep your turtle healthy. I've read that tea tree oil works as an insecticide to treat bites but not as a maintenance med.

Well I may have been miss leading when I used the word "mantenance" more of a recop type deal... His shell had several pits in it and a couple spots where it looked like inbetween the parts of the shell there was small white deposites. and a single small shell injury with white deposites. Also on the bottom of his shell there are what looks like watermarks... maybe privious damage healing? So I spoke with a homeopathic vet locally and she seemed to approve of the use.. as she was the person who treated his claws. I don't like triditional medicine unless it is the only answer.. especially if the is an organic answer is available and especially for a paitent that cannot approve of the treatment. I have nothing against all the creams and other items available.. it just feels better usuing something natural.. I like the smell.. almost earthy.. Guess I'm wierd..
So the advice was to place him in a isolation tank {10 gal} with a raised water temp of 85b to aide in activity and eating during the healing process and dose her once a day with Melafix an all natural antibacterial water additive made from tea trees.. Designed for fish. The active ingredient is melaleuca which I am not familar with. I was also instructed to provide adiquate basking and uvb lighting in the isolation tank. and to take him out several times a day to allow for him to completly dry out and to walk around. After he is completly dry I apply tea tree oil diluted with distilled water with a cotton ball to the entire shell and limbs allow to dry and then rinse under running water to make shure there isn't any in his eyes. I was instructed to do this for 7 days and then return him to his normal habitat.. I have done this for two day's now and have noticed consideribale improvement on the inflamation on his claws and coloring on his shell..Also the white spots seem to be drying out and dissappearing..Let me know whatcha think????

If the vet is familiar with treating turtles, you can ask her about the tea tree oil. Otherwise, I've read it can be used as a medication. Some treatments don't necessarily treat the problem the turtle has so you want to be sure the oil will treat the problem.

Melaleuca is the species of plant where tea tree oil comes from.

She has done some reptiles and saw scratch as a favor, she is a family friend and helped remove the infected claws and provided some antibacterial gel to apply to them. She she she has recommended the extracts and oils to treat small bacteria infections on other reptiles when a natural alternitive is requested. And said it was some thing to try.. I'm going to use the products recomended for the week if it appears that the condition is not healing I will take him to an actuall herp vet.

If your turtle was not in the best condition when you got him, it will take time for him to show some improvement (he didn't get the way he was overnight). I'll bet that amazing set-up, a healthy diet and time will help him the most.

yEAH IT SEEMS TO BE HELPING ALOT.. IT'S JUST HARD TO SEE ANY ISSUES AND NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM GO AWAY IMMEDIATLY.. i KEEP SEEING MY PRIVIOS SUFFERING TURTLE IN THIS ONE.. SO I MIGHT HAVE SELFISH REASONS FOR WANTING FAST TREATMENT-- EITHER WAY I WANT THIS TIME AROUND TO BENIFIT THIS TURTLE AND NOT MY HEAD...