Urgent Care :: white stuff on feet

[CARISUE71]

Tank Size: 40 gallons
UV bulb and heat lamp water temp 78



I got this new RES and he has white stuff on his front feet. Looks like Fungus? Do they get fungus on there feet?? Looks like he is looseing hie toe nails. he eats well. Any ideas? He was the only one left in the tank when I got him. The white stuff on his feet is concerning me.

[cam722]

Is there anyway you can take a picture so we can see what you mean? I noticed in your signature that you have 3 turtles. Did you quarantine the new turtle or have you just put it in with your others?

[fishandcandy]

This may be normal shedding. Post a pic if you can and search other posts to see if you can find something similar.

[CARISUE71]

No I do not have all my turtles together, Clydette is outside in the pond she is my biggest turtle the other two I bought at the same time and they are together. I noticed that when i took the other one and looked at its foot under a bright light it looks like his skin is white but his nails are coming back there are just transparent. Is that normal? I tried to get a picture but it came out blurry. Do you think he was picked on before I got him? he was the smallest in the group and he was in with other turtles besides RES. He was hiding under a log. They look better but just a bit concerned. I never noticed Clydettes feet like that that is why I am so concerned.

Also does turtles eating habits change? i noticed since I put her in the pond outside she doesn't eat like she use too. I took her out put her in her bucket and nothing. She didn't eat anything. I use to put in her tank at night and feed her than, than she would eat everything. now since she is outside I put the little ones in her tank. So I don't bring her in anymore. She does eat a little but not like she use too. As you notice I am new to this I only had Clydette for 6 MOS. Any ideas would be helpfully to me. thanks

[Turtleboy]

when u said UV bulb and heat lamp water temp 78 does that mean the temperature of the basking spot and water are the same? if so you should really boost the temperature of the basking spot to about 10 more than the area of the water!

[CARISUE71]

My water temp is 78 I am not sure about the basking temp i have a 75 watt bulb The UV lamp is seperate I will have to go check the basking temp

[CARISUE71]

my basking Temp is at 100.5 My thermoter is always a little off. Is that too high Should i use a small watt bulb? I also have the AC on in the house. So the out side air is alot cooler.

[marisa]

Yes, they can get fungus on the feet/skin, and in the absence of injury, loosing nails can be the result of a fungal infection. If the white on the feet were really visible in the water but not really out of it and if in the water the white was thin, translucent and wispy, it would sound like your turtle was starting to shed. If the white is cottony and is visible out of the water (like patches), this along with the loose nails could mean a fungus. A pic of the affected areas dry would be good.

Perhaps Clydette feels unsafe in the pond or perhaps the temp is too cool, which would affect eating...

Is your thermometer 10 degrees off? The basking area temp should be in the range of 88-90F (about 10 degrees warmer than the water). Too warm or not warm enough will affect their desire to bask. It would be good to get a better thermometer so you know what the temp really is. Either use a lower wattage or increase the distance of the bulb from the basking area. How far away from your turtle is the 75 watt bulb?

[CARISUE71]

The white stuff doesn't look like shedding, Clydette went through that and it doesn't look like that at all. The basking area doesn't feel like it is that hot they axctually bask pretty often. So if it is the fungus how do I treat it?
The bulb is about a good ten inches from the dock.

I think you are right I don't think she feels all that safe outside. Her plants aren't too big yet I am still trying to get her more like the water lettuce. i just haven't found it yet. I do have other plants in there they just aren't that big yet.

[fishandcandy]

The best way to treat it would be to visit a vet, find out exactly what it is, and follow prescribed treatments.