General Care Discussion :: are they shedding scutes? (pic)

[turrbee]

i am wondering if this is what shedding scutes look like
i dont know if it's noticeable in the pic



thanks lots!

[steve]

Can you provide a closer pic? Mine didn't shed when they were small.

[turrbee]

hmmmm~
they are not supposed to shed scutes when they are small?
i dont have any closer pix =\
they run away when i get close to them!!
thanks tho!
i guess it's nothing?????
=P
does it look like something's wrong there?

[steve]

My RES didn't have a good basking setup when they were hatchlings, so I really can't relay my personal experience with you on that. You might wait to see if Missi chimes in, chances are she'll give you better insight

[marisa]

How long have you had them? How big are they (measure the shell length of each and don't include the curve)? How much have they grown since you've had them?

Small hatchlings shouldn't really shed because they are growing. Are you concerned about the edges of the scutes starting to lift (it looks like that's what's going on from the pic)? It does look like they may be starting to shed. If you've had them for at least several months and they've grown noticeably, what are they being fed?

If you haven't had them that long, it just may take time before they don't run away when you approach. It depends on the turtle. On the other hand, this behavior is instinctual, and is likely to never be totally eradicated.

[turrbee]

marisa

i bought them in sept.
so it's about 3 months?
they are 1.4 and 1.5 inches
they.. might have grown..
not noticeablly big tho

i dont know if they are shedding
but it doesnt look SMOOTH???????
i dunnnoo~ =x

[cprcheetah]

It could be due to growing. What is their diet like?

[megcornell]

In the pic they definitely look like they are growing. I've had my hatchling for a few months now (since may) and he has yet to shed although some of his scutes are getting close. It looks like your guys are just growing for now, from what I understand it takes a while for the scutes to actually loosen and fall off- I'd guess they won't be doing that for at least a few months.

[camee1991]

Just my input...My baby girl Tobi RES is 3 1/2 years old and 6 inches long and 4 1/2 wide and she shed her 1st time this year.

Your turts look like mine did when they were younger. It is not a really pretty outer shell; and yes it was due to feeding. I fed her when she begged before I realized she ALWAYS begged. (I felt sorry for her...)

Anyhow, it caused her shell to "pyramid" or her scutes looked like they are sorta popped up into the middle.

She is healthier and looks better now since I have learned how much and when to feed her and also since she has FINALLY shed her 1st time.

GOOD LUCK with your babies! It takes time and lotsa learnin' lol...but it is SOOOOO worth it!

Cam

[turrbee]

It could be due to growing. What is their diet like?

i alternate between romaine lettuce, blood worms and pellets.
they dont really like pellets tho =s

[turrbee]

thanks for your feedbacks =)
i dont think they are sick at all
it just looks...... not like when i first got them
but yea i do think it's cuz they are growing
=)

[Muirner]

just from my opinion, that light in the first picture seems to be way to close to the turtle dock... what do you have for temperatures on the dock.

[industrial_girl_2000]

hmmmm~
they are not supposed to shed scutes when they are small?
i dont have any closer pix =\
they run away when i get close to them!!
thanks tho!
i guess it's nothing?????
=P
does it look like something's wrong there?

Turtles *can* shed scutes when they are very small. Size doesn't matter.

[industrial_girl_2000]

If the scute layers are starting to stick up on the corners (where they easily can be pulled off with very little effort), then the turts are shedding. It's hard to see from the picture exactly what is going on though.

[marisa]

I think size does matter, and if a really small hatchling was shedding I would wonder what was going on...