Urgent Care :: Cracked shell? Pyramiding? What is this?

[Missmoxie]

Ok guys, you are probably thinking that I am a crazy, over-protective turtle-mom, but as I inspected Loki tonight (now that I know more about turtles) I noticed that one side of her shell is a little rough and discolored.







What is that? I don't know what caused it, she came to me like this. When I run my fingers over her shell, it feels like part of the shell is jutting out/cracked.

Her previous owner fed her nothing by Turtle Bite pellets. This has already changed. Is there anything else I can do?

Any ideas? If it's anything, I will take her to the vet on Monday.

[steve]

Hi, it appears that it is the scutes overlapping due to dangerously fast growth. The jaggedness of the marginal scutes is also a clear indication of fast growth. The 2nd and 3rd pics show some initial stages of shedding, but you need to keep at the seams. Since the scutes overlap, they will trap debris. Without enough basking, the area underneath can become infected. You might want to clean (gently scrub) and inspect those areas regularly (every week or so).

[SpotsMama]

You didn't ask about it, but I couldn't help but notice the gravel in the first photo. It's dangerous to keep gravel in a turtle tank because they eat it and it can clog up their digestive system leading to all manner of problems up to and including death.

Here's a thread on a turtle that was lucky but it illustrates the point. We've had other threads where the turtle didn't make it:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... s&start=15

Eating gravel seems to be universal among turtles. People don't think their turtles are eating it because they don't see it:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12532

The bottom line is, you'd be wise to lose the gravel and find something else to decorate the bottom of the tank. You'll be glad you did because almost anything is easier to keep clean than the gravel.

[Missmoxie]

Spotsmama: That first picture was taken when I brought them home. That was the (tiny tiny!) tank that they were kept in with little gravel. I noticed that she ate the gravel, so I got rid of it IMMEDIATELY. There is no more grave in their tank.

I have since halted all feeding of pellets and have offered greens (which they aren't eating...) Hopefully they'll get hungry enough to eat them after a few days.

I will keep my eye on it.

[corey7144]

Hope your turtle ok.

[marisa]

Your turtle needs to shed scutes. I'm not sure what problem you're referring to in the circled portion of the picture, but many of those scutes have been retained far longer than they should have been.

I realized you've improved the diet, what is she being fed now?

Make sure she's got good basking conditions. Getting her outside for some basking in sunlight would be good.

[SpotsMama]

Vitamin e in the diet will help her shed. Here are some foods containing vitamin e:

Tomato
Sweet potato
Turnip greens
Blueberries
Apple skin

[RonnWilliams]

Wow. I didn't know gravel was such a big deal. I just added gravel to my RES set up over the weekend. I guess I need to remove it. I read on here that it is kinda hard to keep clean, but no health concerns.

Thanks for the helpful info SpotsMama (as always)!!