Urgent Care :: Is this Shell Rot?

[H&D]

Hi,

I'm new here and I hate to make this my first post, but I need some advice as to whether this is a case of shell rot on my RES.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Dan
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[bradmeisel]

I don't think so.

does he have a proper basking spot where he can get all of his shell out of the water and dry out completely?

[SpotsMama]

I wouldn't call it shell rot though something is going on. Have you perchance pulled on or pried loose the scutes where they were loose? The shell looks healthy except that something is causing layers to flake off. The area around the marginals is worrisome because it's gone several layers deep.

How long has this been going on? Has it been getting worse gradually?

Can you please answer all the questions on the sticky at the top of the Urgent Care section? That will help uncover any husbandry issues.

If this were my turtle, I'd go ahead and treat the affected areas with some sort of antiseptic. A good one is Hibiclense. It's a hand wash for people that you can get from places like Walgreen's. Wash the areas gently with a little Hibiclense and a soft toothbrush, then rinse well. You can also apply a little antibiotic cream after washing, letting it soak in for 20 or 30 minutes before returning your turtle to his tank. Repeat daily for awhile. Keep the tank water extra clean.

If it gets worse then you'll need to take more aggressive measures.

[H&D]

Thanks for the replies. I am in New Hampshire and have been without power for going on 2 1/2 days. I am on borrowed time with the computer so I will answer all the questions when I can get back online. I was able to get my RES's to a friends house that has power so they have at least a place to gett some UV light and get warm.


Thanks

[laurapa]

Oliver's shell looks kinda similar, and I've narrowed it down as best I can to scute retention. Every once in a while he'll lose a little piece, but never a whole scute. I can see a few layers on Oliver's shell that need to shed. How long has it been since your little one's last shed?

Now that Oliver has a new set-up, he is getting ready to shed for the first time in almost 2 years. I think the key has been creating a great enough difference between his water and basking temperature to encourage him to spend more solid hours basking.

Vitamin E apparently encourages shedding as well. We feed Oliver a blueberry every week for this reason.

[steve]

The only time I've seen that type of shell is when the scute prematurely comes off or is damaged. In these cases, either bone or a bit of flesh was exposed but were able to heal. From your pics, it isn't was deep as what I encountered, but it is widespread and would have me concerned as to what is going on.

[TurtleLover_S&B]

It doesn't really look like shell rot.It looks very dry.It might have to do something with shedding.Like has your turtle been shedding lately?It coujld also be where a scute has come off,but I don't know if that's it's.It's very different.I've never seen anything like it.....Sorry :/

[H&D]

How big is your turtle? 7"L - 5 1/2"W
How long have you had it? 5 1/2 YEARS

What is the water temperature? 71 degrees
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? 5 gallons
Are you using a water conditioner? yes, reptisafe & turtle clean
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? 75 degrees
Is there a basking light? no
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? floatin platform
Is there a UVB light? yes

What have you been trying to feed it? loves Reptomin
When was the last time your turtle ate? every night

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 20L
Is the tank near a window? no
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? moderate

Have you read the Basic Care section? yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? not too much

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? none, maybe a little bit of fungus on his legs, but it's hard to tell if its shed

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If you have a question about a skin or shell condition, please try provide pictures of the area when it is dry.

[marisa]

Your set-up leaves a lot to be desired, and it's no wonder your RES is having shell (and skin) issues. The first pic looks like there was some shell rot that somehow healed. There's only 5 gallons of water in the tank? What kind of filtration is being used with only 5 gallons of water? How often is the water changed? At the size your RES is, he needs more like an 80-90 gal tank...

Your turtle needs a basking light for warmth (can be a regular incandescent light bulb) along with a UVB light. Both should be positioned over the basking area. The basking area temp needs to be much warmer---try for somewhere in the range of 88-90F.

What brand of UVB light are you using and what strength is it? How old is it (they need to be replaced every 6 -8 months, UVB strength lessens with use even though the bulb still lights)?

If the floating platform moves around the tank, it needs to be anchored under the UVB light and basking light so your RES can benefit from them...

Improve your turtle's set up and lighting.

[laurapa]

Yep! If you improve his set-up you'll see dramatic improvements in his shell. He needs to be warm when basking not only because it's critical to his health, but also because his shell needs to dry off as fully and completely as possible during basking.

You will notice your turtle basking a lot more once you put a heat bulb up there. All that extra basking will encourage shedding. Having a greater difference in temperature between the basking area and water really helps. Oliver has begun a big shed just three weeks after moving to a new set-up with better heat regulation!

In your answers to the questions, you mentioned reptomin pellets, but nothing else. But in your pictures I see lettuce. What veggies are you feeding your turt, and how often?