Urgent Care :: Shell Separation -

[AllisonChains]

I noticed today while cleaning Squirt's tank, and him - that his shell is literally coming apart in the back.

I know that this picture isn't very good, but maybe you can get an idea of what I mean.

Right above my thumb is the separation. Any ideas?

[SSMcLeod]

Are you pushing down on the back scutes?

Picture isn't the greatest, but given the dullish colour of the shell... it may be harmless shedding, and given that is young its scutes are still pliable (to a point).

So (given the picture) it looks that its about to shed. Better pictures would give better answers of course though

[AllisonChains]

I will take some better pictures when I get home in a bit.

To answer you, yes I am pushing down a bit, and I can see what looks like white 'meat', and I noticed some blood.

I checked on him this morning, and there is dried blood on his dock, but he isn't bleeding - like while in the water. If that makes sense.

[marisa]

Some close-ups of the area as well as the carapace would definitely be helpful. What does the plastron look like?

[Peva]

That would really scare me! How big is the turtle? Looks like a fairly youngan, and maybe it is shedding as said above.

[AllisonChains]

sorry it took me so long - had a minor house emergency with the hot water heater. UGH.

So, here are some more pictures. I had him out of his tank for awhile and took them. He was sitting in the corner, and that is why the blood is there which is the first time besides the dried blood that I have seen it actually bleeding. He isn't very active at all except when it is time to eat.

[steve]

I do not know what can be the cause, but it's serious enough that I would consult with a trusted vet.

[AllisonChains]

Do you think that I should dry dock him? He has been out of his tank most of the day.

[steve]

Yes, I would dry dock for now.

[happycamper]

Poor baby! Hope he's okay

[AllisonChains]

We visited the vet today, and it seems that he has a calcium deficiency, and his official diagnosis was Metabolic Bone Disease. Just in the last day he developed a little soft spot underneath.

He got 2 shots; a Vitamin AD, and Calcium Gluconate, and sent home with 14 days worth of Calcium for me to give him.

He has been eating the Turtle Jello Shots for quite some time, but I was missing enough Calcium - I feel horrible.

He told me to get some feeder fish, meal or earth worms to add to his diet, dry dock him as much as possible to prevent infection, and stop the regular diet for now.



I feel like a bad turtle momma right now.

[happycamper]

The fact that you took your turtle to the vet proves you are a GOOD turtle mama!