General Care Discussion :: White Mouth

Taking care of your turtle's overall health.

Post Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:22 pm   

Uh... their beaks and mouths shed, don't they? I usually expect some sort of infection or mineral deposit, or anything else considered abnormal, to not be spread out over the entire beak so perfectly like that.

It's hard to tell in the photo, but, is any part of the beak peeling off? Can you see under it, and see if the area beneath is brightly colored?
Phryne - Japanese bobtail, 11 y.o.
Hurricane - RES, approx. 19 y.o., 7.00in. long
Typhoon - RES hybrid, approx. 19 y.o., 8 in. long
Sadie - RES, approx. 30+ y.o., 11.5in. long
Sophie - Colombian red tail boa, 15 y.o., 5 ft. long
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theartbook35
 
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:31 pm   

It's funny, but today it seems much better, not as white. I checked and there is no peeling or loose edges.
dboucher
 
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:32 pm   

Beaks (mouths?) don't shed---they're worn down/kept trim by the food that's eaten.

Try that moistened q-tip...
"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." -Antoine de Saint Exupery-
marisa
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:24 pm   

Chloe is so good. She let me wipe around her mouth with a wet q-tip, but nothing came off. Her beak and mouth look like fingernails that need filing. Does that make sense? Thanks for the Central American care link. I didn't have that one yet.
dboucher
 
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:14 pm   

You're welcome. Her beak is very chipped in places (the edge is very rough). It can happen biting on something that's really hard/abrasive, especially if the area is weak for some reason.

I'd still have a herp vet take a look at her, especially since you've gotten her recently. The vet could smooth those areas or s/he could tell you to just leave them alone if Chloe's eating isn't affected.
"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." -Antoine de Saint Exupery-
marisa
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