Urgent Care :: White spot on shell.Your Thoughts?

[Tholapsyx]

How big is your turtle? 1.8 inches
How long have you had it? 3 and a half months

What is the water temperature? 26 C
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? yes (no need in summer time)
How much water is in there? 13 gallons
Are you using a water conditioner? no
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? 31 - 32 C
Is there a basking light? yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? wood
Is there a UVB light? yes

What have you been trying to feed it? pellets , lots of different vegetables , fruits
When was the last time your turtle ate? today (carrot and pellets)

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 19 gallons
Is the tank near a window? not too near
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? not so much

Have you read the Basic Care section? yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? no

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Hello all ,

as the title says ,there is a white spot on the shell of my little ...what are your thoughts on this one?What would you recommend me?



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Thanks in advance!

[steve]

Hi, can you take a picture of the area when dry? I do see algae and the area around it looks pale.

[Tholapsyx]

Thanks for your reply Steve

Here are the pictures when dry...and i am quite shocked seeing that white "layer" on his shell...i am always watching him very closely but never had the chance to see him completely dry...



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Please ,tell me what i need to do and i will do it on the spot...I am really worried

[steve]

Unfortunately I can't tell much from the pictures. An early fungal case is hard to see unless up close. It could also be hard water deposits by the way it looks like it collects at the edges of the scutes. Does it go away completely when he's in water?

[Tholapsyx]

Yes ,it does go away...the only thing thats visible in the water and seems disturbing is the area right at the end of his shell ,on the marginal ,which is ,very slowly spreading...

[steve]

That area does sound like it's fungus. Can you gently scrape it with your fingernail? Do you have a vet you can get meds from?

[Tholapsyx]

Hmm , i will try and scrape it ,although i do not trust my gentleness...There is one vet and she suppose to be an expert on exotic animals ,but last time i went there just to check things ,she didnt sound like an expert

Do you think betadine would help?or a salt bath?

[steve]

I have tried betadine, but it doesn't seem to have much effect. I would try Zoo Med Repti Turtle Sulfa Dip, or if you can manage a prescription of silver sulfadiazine.

[Tholapsyx]

Unfortunately ,both of those items (especially ZooMed) are quite hard to find in my country...I will go after the prescription of S.S ,though i will probably have a hard time finding one...

I suppose basking cant neutralize this ,can it?

Thanks for all your help Steve ,i really appreciate it!

[steve]

Shedding will help, but to be honest, I would try to treat this sooner than later. Fungus has a tendency to grow fast and reinfect.

[Tholapsyx]

Ok ,i will keep your advice in mind...tomorrow i am going to look for the prescription and see if i can find the Zoo Med from an online pet shop as an alternative....
Do you think this will be over once he sheds?Is there a possibility that the fungus might have gone deeper?
One last question ,do you think that any anti-bacteria cream would help?In case they suggest me something else...

[steve]

It has a tendency to go down a layer, so it's possible it might be on the next scute as well.

I do occasionally read people trying other anti-fungal medications (for humans) but they never really follow up. I have been seeing more people using an anti-fungal medication for fish on turtle fungus. It's called Maroxy, but most people are using it to treat fungus on the skin.

[Tholapsyx]

So today i went shopping but with no luck! I didn't find any prescription nor the Zoo Med.I decided to give it a try with betadine so i am asking for a guidance...How long should i keep him air dry?How many times should i apply the betadine? lastly,should i clean the shell with a soft toothbrush or something else?

Thanks again!

[Love of Animals]

Google silver sulfadiazine. You may be able to get it online with out a prescription. Good Luck!

[steve]

Silver sulfadiazine might also be available under different names and I'm certain most vets would have access to it.

For a Betadine scrub, dilute it 1:1 with water and gently scrub the shell. I usually dry dock overnight afterwards. You can also try Hibiclens. Dilute it 1:1 with water and gently scrub the shell. Dry dock overnight and rinse the shell in the morning.

Do not let your turtle drink either solutions.