Urgent Care :: Please Help (white marks on shell)

[Kiranin]

Hey guys, unfortunately I don't have pictures of this right now, but please check this same topic later tonight as I will have pics for sure. OK here's the deal, if you haven't seen this then please check my other post:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19629


Ok well what worries me now is that whatever this is, it seems to have spread, but not like a fungus, it just seems like white marks on the edges and middle of a few scutes, but what worries me is that both of my turtles have this, I'm thinking it's their lamp (not a UVB bulb, in progress of buying one) because theydid'n start to get like this until I changed thei tank. They're acting fine, and they eat bask swim everything, but this is quite worrysome, if you could please speculate and give me some opinions until I can get some pics. Thank you

[Kemul]

Well, they could be starting the schute shedding process, based on your description, photos, and Spotsmama's opinion in that thread.

Do they move when you push at the white spots? Do they look silver-color when underwater? If so, it's a sign of schute shedding.

[Kiranin]

well they don't even seem to care much if I rub or touch it, it really seems like shedding, but what seems strange, is that they're differen't sizes, and I suspect an age difference, so it seems unlikely that both of them would shed at the same time.

[Fuzzy Hamster]

because theydid'n start to get like this until I changed thei tank.

A change in environment can trigger changes in your turtles, especially skin and scute shedding. Even though they are different ages, they could very easily have started to shed at the same time because you put them in a new tank at the same time.

Spike (our RES) was in a 10 gallon tank, with poor lighting (no UVB), and being over-fed for months until we discovered this site. The result was that he was starting to pyramid and was developing large gaps between his scutes. Shortly after he was put into his new tank, he began to shed his scutes and his shell is now much healthier.

Make sure you get that UVB. It is really important to your turtle's health, especially their shells. You may want to also consider adding some cuttlebone (for calcium) to their diet as well.