Urgent Care :: Concerned about my turtle's shell!

[katclarissa]

Hi there! I just wanted to know what you guys think about my turtles shell.

I've had my res for 1 and a half years already. He is about 2.5 inches long. He lives in a 60gal tank, the water temp is between 75-80 and the basking area is around 85-90. I find him basking quite a bit and there is a lot of swimming space for both my res. I took them out of the tank when I was moving my res into the new 60gal and placed them in a container with not as much water as they're usually used to. When I was going to put them back into the tank, I noticed that Tule's (the male) shell looked a bit dry and some of his schutes turned a white, cloudy color. I figured for a while it was because he was going to shed, but it hasn't shed yet and I don't know if it's because something is wrong or he just really hasn't shed yet. Any ideas? I'm getting kind of worried.

Here are some pictures of his shell:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/97/img5722f.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/59/img5721b.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/839/img5720d.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/img5719r.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/717/img5718v.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/29/img5716h.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/img5717jrc.jpg/

[Love of Animals]

What do you feed your turtles and how much? Do you have a UVB light and the proper basking set up? Looks like retained scutes. So let's figure out the proper diet and lighting.

[katclarissa]

I feed them mostly the reptomin plus pellets & I switch with romaine lettuce every other or every two days. I feed them once a day. I gave them rosy red minnows twice once last month and one time this month. I have the basking light and turtle dock.

http://www.petco.com/product/4969/Zoo-M ... e_Lighting

Should I get another hood and a UVB bulb?

[Love of Animals]

The basking light you have provides heat. You do need a UVB bulb in addition to the basking light. Try feeding different types of lettuce with the Romain. You can try red leaf, green leaf and Romain. Alternate them. Try to take them outside for 15 - 20 minutes of sun everyday. Even when you do get a UVB bulb 2 - 3 trips outside a week for real sun is good for them. Ease up on the rosey reds for now. If you can find it in the pet store wheat germs pellets for Koi is good. You can also add thinly sliced carrots to his diet. For the Reptomin pellets you should be feeding him every other day the amount that would fit in his head if empty, not including his neck. Feed veggies everyday. Does he bask everyday and get fully dry while doing so?

[tammi]

It looks like your turtle is trying to shed. Sometimes it takes a little while for the scutes to come off. As long as your turtle can bask properly and has the right tlights they will eventually come off. Dont rush it and don't pick them off.

[katclarissa]

i haven't picked at them. i've been taking them outside for a little bit more sun daily until i can get a bulb that also has uvb rays. thanks!