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Well, it has recently come to my attention that turtles can have retained scutes (thanks marisa and spotsmama for mentioning!) Now I'm worried about my guys. They just don't shed scutes. I never see scutes in the tank. Lily had a little white spot on her shell, and not it is getting larger. It kinda disappears out of water, leaving me to suspect it is water/air getting under loose scutes. But they don't shed. How does one treat these? And why don't they shed? Is it something I'm doing?

They bask, they swim, and they eat. Advice?

Are you referring to another post where this is discussed? Could you please link to it? I'm curious to hear the answer, because Napoleon had a heavy shed right when we first got him, but he hasn't shed at all in about two months. Someone (I think marisa) commented on one of my photos that it looks like he needs to shed, he's definitely looking dull and dry lately.

Shedding can be a long process. As long as they are basking, getting UVA/UVB and calcium, I don't think you need to do anything else. It would be different if there was a damaged scute or some sort of infection.

Starchick, spotsmama showed me this thread. It's very helpful. Sounds a lot like what my turts have.

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... highlight=

I'm going to the pet store today to get a pH tester and...a... lower..er. pH lowerer? Anyhoo. I'll keep you posted!!

can someone post what retained scutes looks like or link out to where a picture is? I still don't know how to search on here... I think Leo may have this... I've been trying to fix his lighting problem- his water temp is 78 degrees steady and his basking dock (still needing to get a UVA bulb but with UVB bulb) is between 90 to 95 degrees! I give him cuttlebone, pellets, and romaine- he also has feeder fish that he normally devours the majority of within the first few days (ex. had 3 in there for awhile- they were becoming his buddies- so I got him 8 more and 3 days later there were only 4 left) His shell looks like he has new scutes growing but there are still smaller scutes on top of those scutes... ? is that what retained scutes looks like or could I have another problem? He shed like crazy when I had his water at 80 but since I've bumped it down he doesn't seem to shed as much... ?? just wondering what I could possibly be dealing with here ?

Some turtles will only shed their scutes every 6 months or so... Retained scutes are refered to pyramiding, its when each scute goes above the normal shell height... I'll get you a picture.

Heres one, See how all of the scutes raise?

Rocketright, your pics are really small. My eyes aren't that good. Is there any way to make them bigger?

By the way, in my other post I said Ph Down is just a bottle of hydrochloric acid. Wrong. It's sulfuric acid. I'll edit the other post.

that looks so painful ... but definately not what's going on with Leo... ??

I didn't realize pyramiding and retained scutes were the same. Thought pyramiding was caused by poor nutrition, too much protien, and retained scutes by not drying out (or high pH). No?

FYI, I just tested my pH. It's 6.5 so I guess that's NOT it. Ach!

JNZBCBnLIL.... here's another thread where its mentioned, and there's a picture. Marisa noted that the scutes looked retained, and that is how this whole thing got into my head But you can see them in the second picture. Basically, it's the marginal scutes in the back, the ones on the edges. See how they have little pieces of scutes being pushed up?

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7488

I think kiki that they may look the same, well around the same... But no they are both diffrent things, well caused by diffrent things... Sorry should've put that!

Retained scutes are when the animal fails to shed properly, they should be shedding shell scutes all the time, and it should not be to noticable. If it is alot at a time then the turtle needs more time basking and drying out.Given the right environment and care it will fix itself. The TORTOISE shown in the picture should NEVER shed it's scutes, tortoises that shed are in severe danger and need a vet.

Pyramiding is normally caused by too much protien, not enough uv lights,over feeding or a combination. Tank size has nothing to do with it. The bone grows wrong and there is nothing to fix it after the damage is done.

turtle addict- so you're saying that tortoise is supposed to look like that?

kikicool- I looked at the pics of that turtle and Leo's shell does not look dry like that when taken out for a bit so is it possible pyramiding considering that it just looks like he has little scutes on top of his big scutes? I try to feed him right but maybe I do give into his begging a little tooo much! I need to stay away from him because he's just so darn cute!! lol

Can you post a pic of Leo's shell? I'm not very knowledgable (thus the thread...) but I'm sure someone will be able to tell what the deal is!

For some reason, I canNOT get a good pic of my guys' shells. The flash always ruins them. GRRRRR

Maybe turn off the flash...