General Care Discussion :: should i clean my turtle???

[pixiedust]

i just got my turt exactly 8 hours ago and i noticed that she has a couple white things hanging out from the sides of her shell particularly around the arms and neck. i dunno how to describe them. the closest thing i could think of is cobwebs or loose cotton. should i clean my turt or something?

[jenaero]

Sounds like shedding skin. You don't need to clean him. If I pick my turtles up and their shells feel slimy I'll give them a quick brush with a soft toothbrush or soft towel but it's really not necessary.

[pixiedust]

oh so they shed their skins too? i mean, i read about the shells shedding but not the skin itself. so nothing to worry about i guess. i just didn't expect to encounter shedding this early. so i should just leave it as it is right?

[jenaero]

Yes, the skin sheds too. You can just leave it. You might see him biting at it but that's normal too.

Just a note, overfeeding and high water temps will cause excessive shedding so double check those.

[marisa]

Keeping the water clean will help with the shedding as well.

[pixiedust]

oh ok. i don't think she'll be overfed coz right now, she hasn't eaten anything. i tried the tuna juice trick but still nothing. i guess, she's still adjusting.

i also feed her at a separate feeding container to keep her tank water clean.

[Turtle addict]

I always use chlorhexidene which is an antifungal/antibacterial and general germ killer on any new ones I get, every other day for a week. I take them and over a sink lightly scrub them with a toothbrush dipped in the chlorhexidene, and then I quarentine them from the rest. That way if they come with a fungus or something it's not allowed to grow and has been killed from day one. And also I get to see some of the personality, and make sure I can check out any shell issues they might have, chips, cracks whatever.

[pixiedust]

chlorexidene? is that readily available in pet shops? and does that have a sort of lay man's name? is that ok to use when she's shedding? i think she really is shedding coz i observed her closely a while ago and the white things [and their locations] do seem like skin.

[Boston_Zhao]

Off track, how can you tell turtles gender? especially a hatchling....

[SpotsMama]

Can't tell with a hatchling. When their shells get to be about 4" long the males' front toenails will grow very very long and his tail will grow long and thick. The females' front tonails will stay short and her tail will be short and slim. The females will ultimately grow to be larger than the males.

[marisa]

Chlorhexidine is the generic term for Nolvasan (brand name), which is a very effective anti-microbial. There are places you can buy it on-line, it can be prescribed by a vet, and you can buy it OTC under the name Hibi-Clens at some pharmacies.

If your turtle is just experiencing some normal skin shedding (you'll know it), your turtle doesn't need to be treated with anything.