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I have had 2 RES since May. They are in a tank with 5 gallons water, I use repti-safe to dechlorinate it each week when I change the water. There is a filter, a water heater, a basking area with a basking light. They both appear healthy and happy, very active, but in the past 2 weeks, I've noticed an orange color on their shells. The discoloration is not on their claws or head, but just on the top of the shells. They are slimy to the touch, so I think it could be some form of algae?

I have 2 pictures




Thank you,
Teresa

i cant see the pictures righ tnow but id like to point out that your tank is way too small
im gonna assume yoru turtles are around 2" so u should have a minimum or 40gallons. 10 gallons per inch of turtle

Yep your tank is to small and if they're slimy your filter isn't doing it's job in the overcrowded tank. I can't tell from the pictures but if you're lucky it's algae, it could be a fungus starting.

Please tell me that is a temporary holding area. They need alot more water.

Does anybody have any advice on what to do next about the fungus? I found on another site to just take them out of the water and keep them dry. I am doing that for now. I will put them in water for about 1 hour a day or twice a day to feed them and let them swim. It says that won't harm them and would help them heal if it was a fungus. This tank is huge for them right now, and I keep it clean. They are happy except this orange discoloration which has just shown up.

thetank is not huge for them, 10 gallons per inch of turtle that tank is not suitable for any turtle

For 2 1" turtles (and that's usually a hatchling) you need a MINIMUM of 10 gallons. When you figure in a basking spot (unless you have above tank) that's at least a 15 gallon, more like a 20 gallon. Your filter on a 20 gallon should be rated for a 40 gallon or more, turtles are alot messier than fish. It won't do you any good to cure the fungus if you put them right back in the same tank, they'll just get it again. Plus why stress them if you aren't sure it is fungus? That whole "won't harm them" thing isn't entirely true, it will stress them and the more stress the more likely to get sick. RI is not easy to cure in a baby.
I'd suggest you gently scrub their shells with a soft tooth brush and see if it's just slime before you dry dock them.

You could always take them into the vet to see if they can run a culture on their shells -that way you'll know if it's a fungus or not.

Dry docking for that long each day is very stressful on *any* turtle, not to mention extremely stressful for hatchlings.

As Everyone else said, That "Tank" is Way Way, to tiny for 1, let alone 2. Get a 40 gallon tote if you can, cheapest way.

Also, as gwennie said, dry docking, even picking up turtles frequently, can be stress full, for young hatchings like that.

Hope their shells get better

gwennie wrote:You could always take them into the vet to see if they can run a culture on their shells -that way you'll know if it's a fungus or not.

Dry docking for that long each day is very stressful on *any* turtle, not to mention extremely stressful for hatchlings.

It looks like fungus to me too. A vet I tried was unable to successfully culture the fungus but a scientist friend was able to.

If their shells are slimy to the touch, there's a thin film of bacteria on them that should be wiped off. Clean their shells for starters and get a better enclosure for them (more water and a better filter).