Urgent Care :: possible shell rot?

[TaylorNicolle]

Hey im new here and im just figuring things out so can anyone help me, i think my hatching, theodore, may have shell rot, im not sure, but i have a few pictures i can post, but i live in italy, and they do not have any turtle doctors here but we went a local vet and she told us that she would research them and shell rot and she told me to find the certain types of medication that i would need for theos shell, and i really am not sure but i was wondering if anybody knew some medicines that would help to heal him, it would be really appreciated if someone could send me some suggestions soon because i have to take him to the vet tomorrow and the vet wont be about to help if i dont have the medicines needed for her perscribe, yehh i know the vet situation doesn't sound very professional but atleast she's trying to help us out. thank you so much.

[SpotsMama]

Is the shell rot the slightly blackened area on the carapace of the turtle in the foreground?

An excellent antiseptic is chlorhexidrine. It is an ingrediant in products like Nolvosan and Hibiclense. An alternative if it's not available is betadine. Chlorhexidrine is easier on living tissue so can allow faster healing.

An excellent antibiotic salve is silver sulfadiazine, also known as Sufadine or SSD Cream. If it's not available other antibiotic creams or salves are helpful but Sufadine is best.

In some cases antibiotic injections are needed. I can't advise you there.

You need to find out why the shell rot occured. Usually it happens when a turtle's water isn't clean and/or when he doesn't bask enough. A turtle has to bask frequent and dry out - top and bottom - completely to keep healthy skin and shell. Bacteria and fungus thrive where it's always damp.

[TaylorNicolle]

Yes, it's blackish looking spots, sorry the pictures arent very clear, my camera was being special, and there wasn't good lighting. Thank you and I think it could possibly be because of the basking maybe because i clean the tank every other day.

[jozzep]

Cute turtles....What kind are they?
I don't see anything alarming but i might be wrong.
Try to keep them dry and basking

[marisa]

Is the shell soft at all in that darkened area? If not, I doubt it's shell rot. For now, I'd make sure the water is clean (sounds like you've got that under control) and your turtle basks under correct lighting (UVB and heat lights).

[TaylorNicolle]

I was looking at jasmine and theodore and now im not even sure if they are RES they might be yellow eared sliders or yellow bellied sliders because i was doing quite a bit of research on them and I noticed that the majority of hatchings have the red ear already, and jasmine and theodore do not. Theodore's looks like it might be turning a little bit orangish but im not sure, so can anybody look at the pictures from above and tell me for sure what kind they are?

[Oliver'smom]

I'm TaylorNicolle's aunt...She forgot to mention that we took them to a vet yesterday. He's not a herpetologist, and the only one he knows is in States for continuing education. This doctor said from what he'd read on shell rot he didn't think it was the same thing. Actually, he said he didn't think it was anything to worry about, but did give me the rx's I asked for...just in case...the silver sulfadiazine 1%, betadine, Clorhexidine 4% (I will have to dilute 50%), and cipro ophthalmic solution. I'm hoping it's nothing, but don't understand why that area would turn black. That part of the shell doesn't feel any different. He eats fine...basks more some days than others. Thanks again.

[Azfar]

Jozzep - It is Yellow Bellied Slider (YBS)..

Very cute baby turtle like mine~!.. now my baby already one month old~!