Other Turtle Discussion :: Weird Scute on Baby Turtle's Shell

[Eskander]

I recently bought a baby RES and the bottom middle scute looks a bit weird, like its split in two. Could it be that it's shedding or is he just like that?

*picture removed*

[jozzep]

This is not from shedding. It's a permanent "defect". When i say defect, i only mean aesthetically. This does not affect it's health in any way.
Most of times, incubating at high temperatures causes this, and i can say that there is a 90% chance this turtle will be a female.High temp incubation will produce mostly females.

[marisa]

S/he's just got an extra/split scute. My RES and one of my Eastern Painteds have them as well. I find them to make the shell even more interesting. I like how your RES's is just about evenly split diagonally across.

[KatieSmeltzer]

just makes him/her more unique.

[Ashley]

Beautiful turtle!
Take good care of him/her....that shell is so nice!