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Hello all,

I just "rescued" two adult-ish sized RES turtles from deplorable conditions and have a question about their shells. From a quick estimate they appear to be about 4-5 inches and 6 inches in shell size and they are about 3-4 years old. From all outward appearances they seem to be fairly healthy considering the conditions in which they were kept. They are also nice and active and display healthy appetites. My only concern at this point is that one of them has sections of it's shell that appear to be peeling. So, is this normal similar to how other reptiles and amphibians shed their skin as they grow ? Thanks in advance for any information,

Phil

Hi Phil, if it's thin and translucent, it's very normal and good actually. Skin will sometimes shed too, especially in warm water, where it looks thin and wispy. Post a picture if you're not sure.

Yes, it was thin and translucent and a few flakes have actually fallen off today in their basking area assumingly because their shell dries out there.