General Care Discussion :: Anti-fungal & Shell Pitting

[LKitsch]

I have two rescues with bad shells, although both are doing much better now. One has recently developed that soft white fungus on one area of the shell, so I am treating it with prescription strength Lamisil, which is what everyone has been recommending, after cleaning the area with Betadine.

The other one has no fungus and the shell is hard, but the shell is badly pitted. I assume this is the scarring that has resulted from years of bad nutrition and poor lighting, and I do not need to treat this with Lamisil or Betadine, but just keep up the good husbandry, knowing that while some of the pitting will disappear, much of it will be there forever.

Right?

[marisa]

I'd use chlorohexidine, either something like Hibiclens (you can get it at a pharmacy, dilute it with water, a 50/50 mix) or get some Nolvasan from a vet.

[LKitsch]

Those are anticeptic and antibacterial cleansers, correct? Are they better than betadine?

Anything better than Lamisil?

But, my question was about the one with the surface pitting on her shell? Am I correct in understanding that it is not necessary to clean or treat her with these drugs because the pitting is basically scarring from bad husbandry from before?

The pitting is surface only and there is no fungus visible. The other one definitely has a fungal infection and I am treating her with the drugs.

[steve]

If the shell is healthy (good color, firm) and only has pitting from a previous condition, then I personally think it is OK as long as there is good basking, diet, UVB and calcium supplementation.

Whether or not it will go away I would believe it depends on the age and severity of the condition.

[LKitsch]

Yes, the shell is now healthy. Thank you!

[marisa]

The one that you said had developed a fungus now has a healthy shell?

Chlorohexidine is an effective antimicrobial and is considered to be better than betadine, especially for certain shell conditions. I remember someone on the forum once used Lamisil for treating the shell. I happened to see Lamisil at a pharmacy and read the box. It didn't sound like it would be that good for treating the shell, so I'd be curious to know how it's working. (Who is "everyone" that's recommending using it?)

[LKitsch]

There are two different turtles.

One has the fungus on one area of the shell, which I am cleaning with betadine and treating with lamisil. I did a web search on treating shell rot, etc---including the forums on this site---and the consensus was that lamisil was an effective anti-fungal, and certainly a lot cheaper than what the vets sell.

The other has no fungus, but the shell is pitted. The color is fine, and it is hard. My understanding is that the pitting is basically scarring from before, when she had shell problems due to bad husbandry, that have now been cleared up.