Urgent Care :: whats wrong with my baby turtle

[gilbertdean27]

i just recieved a baby turtle from a lady whose turtles had babies maybe two weeks ago he is very tine a little bit bigger than a quarter what is wrong with his shell

[steve]

It's hard to tell, can you get a pic of the shell dry?

[gilbertdean27]

that is dry

[steve]

Then I would my impression is that it is fungus, though I am surprised to see them get it so young.

[gilbertdean27]

what do i do?

[steve]

Before any treatment, you need to confirm what that is. Generally, silver sulfadiazine works best against fungus, but you need to get that from a vet since it requires a prescription.

[gilbertdean27]

alright so i need to go to a vet to find out what it is

[steve]

Can get very clear close-up pics?

[gilbertdean27]

sure hold on a second lemme get him out of his tank

[gilbertdean27]

[steve]

The "cottony" look does make me think it's fungus. Before going to a vet, you might want to do a gentle scrub with diluted betadine (make sure he doesn't drink any of it) and dry dock.

Do you know if the other turtles had it? Fungus is usually contagious.

[gilbertdean27]

oh i have no clue he other turtle i got with him doesnt have it its just him where can i get betadine from and this probably seems like a stupid question but how do i dry dock him

[vic021]

keep him out of the water just like in a container or someplace dry

[steve]

Betadine can be found in drugstores. Make sure you dilute it so it looks like tea and be careful because it can cause stains on your clothes.

Dry docking... a nice clean, dry enclosed area with a basking lamp and some towels where he can hide if wants too. If you are going to dry dock him overnight, no need for any basking light.

[za94]

Thats shell fungus, it's harmless but it does mean that you're turtles surrounding are not clean and that he isnt getting sufficient baskng. The are a couple of things you can do. First of you can put him or her in a bowl will salt, the salt will help clean the bacteria but dont keep him in there for too long! only for about 20 mins. Second most importantant thing, CLENA YOUR TURTLES SHELL . Most people dont realise you have to do this. What i do is take some disinfectant and put it on an ear bud and start cleanin the shell. Since you have a baby be gentle cuz there shells are thin n soft. Hell be absolutely fin if you keep him clean.