Urgent Care :: Peeling skin should I worry - Newbie

[marisa]

If the shell is improving, I think I'd wait. If I needed/wanted to add salt to the tank at some point, I'd use aquarium salt (but I'd wait). BTW, a fuzzy shell isn't a sign of growth. If the skin on the arms and legs looked wispy and translucent in the water, that could be a sign of growth (skin shedding).

The Reptoguard probably isn't going to to much, if anything. Keeping the water clean with changes is the best thing to do.

[lilreaux]

Will continue to watch the shell and will not add salt just yet. Meldon is quiet jumpy and dives in the water with any sound that startles him. I think once he is used to his home this will become lessa and he will bask more. I am taking him out of the tank for a couple hours until he basks on his own. I do think it is skin so I am assuming this will level off with his growth spurt. I am doing a partial H2O exchange (60%) every friday. Thanks for the help.

[lilreaux]

[lilreaux]

[lilreaux]

Finally found a way to post pictures in the first on the shell is lifting and the edges at first were fuzzy as you can see that is no longer the case. In the second pic there is a pretty good view of what I think is shedding.

[steve]

looks like shedding. though when my turts shed, it appears more shredded while still attached to the skin

[lilreaux]

Took Meldon to the vet (found one only 50 miles away thanks for the list) Well excessive peeling is a problem. The vet said that it is related to fungus when the fungus is attacking the skin. So treatment is swimming only 2 times a day to eat for 30 minutes and the rest of the time in a box with a bowl of water and a heat lamp. Also 1 hour of direct sunlight each day. Also gave anitbiotics because the peeling was causing abrasions in some area's. For the shell I have to use a soft tooth brush and with betadine scub the shell, rinse, and then apply this purple stuff called gentian violet (found at the local drug store). Anyway fungas, I am told takes weeks (6-8) to cure it is a slow process so that even though you don't see the fuzzy stuff the fungas is still there. Will keep you posted on Meldon's condition thanks for all of your help. I hope the above information is useful to other out there who may have the same problem.

[tutlehaven]

I just read about Meldon. I know no one needs to repeat all that, but my 5 1/2in turt ( by the way this is DUMBLEDOR ) is non stop shedding skin. I am allwys having to clean the tank just from skin. I know he does not have fungus cause he was checked out. my turts are growing fast, maybe too fast. I have tryed a soft toothbrush but it is like the skin just keep comming off and i don't want to rub him raw. is there anything i can put in the water to help, or just use the aquarium salt?
By the way my baby turt, Squirt that I was worried about died about 3 weeks ago. we are very upset. I thought she had a problem but not for sure.

[tutlehaven]

by the way, that is ( was ) Squirt at the left.

[tutlehaven]

Well Dumbledoe and Voltamort, are growing about 1/2in a month Dumbledor maybe more. I think that is way too fast. The water temp is about 80 but I just turned it down. the basking temp is about 90 if i remember right. might be lower. they are in the 55 gal. tank almost full. I don't do total water changes but I need to vaccum out the bottom at least every 2-3 days. ( they poop like crazy and its a lot ) They eat turtle pellets as a main diet, they will get nightcrawlers as a treat or some bloodworms. I will go today and look for the salt.

[marisa]

They sound like they're growing too fast. Turn down the water temp to about 75F. How many pellets does each get at a feeding? You might want to feed them pellets every other day if you're not doing do (i.e., cut back on the food). They need more variety in the diet.

How big are the two turtles (shell lengths not including the curve)?

What kind of filter do you have for the tank? Feeding them in a separate feeding container of water would help cut down on the waste in the tank (I'd feed one at a time to make sure they get equal amounts).

[tutlehaven]

Dumbledor is 5 1/2in , Voltamort is 5in and crush is 2 1/2in. thye also get feeder fish when i can get them. i did put the fish in another tank so i could put the turts in there to go fishing but without being in there own tank they won't eat.
I now have two undergravel filters. they seem to be helping. i feel bad if i cut down on the food cause they are always hungry. i know they are always hungry and will always eat, but they love there food. i only give them a few pellets at a time, i don't count but i do hand feed them to keep the pellets from being wasted or falling to the bottom and making a mess.

[marisa]

If you've done any reading on this site, you know that a 55-gallon tank is far too small for them (should be more like 130-gallons)...

You're doing them no favors by overfeeding them. Give them some veggies/plant matter if they appear hungry.

[tutlehaven]

I do not overfeed them. never said anything like that. i hand feed them a few pellets is what i said. also i said i know they always are hungry but i do not feed them every time that beg or apear hungry.
i do know the tank is not optimal for them but it is what we can do for now. we do have plans for another tank and are eyeing a bigger one.

[marisa]

I misunderstood. But if, as you said, they're growing half an inch a month (or more?), they must be eating something for them to grow at that rate...