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Shell Issues

Posted:
Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:45 am
by squirt!
It is green between my turtle's scutes, and on the center scutes there are specks that either resemble fungi or shiny plastic wrap.... o_O i will post pictures asap but in the meantime 1) what is the shell diagnosis (fungi? algae? something even more serious?) and 2) what can i do to take care of it? thanks so much.
Re: Shell Issues

Posted:
Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:46 pm
by tammi
I would say the green between scuts is most likely algae and the specks is most like the scutes beginning to shed. The algae can be scrubed off with a soft toothbrush but dont get agressive with it. Light scrubbing should do. As for the shedding scutes just leave them be they will shed on their own.
Re: Shell Issues

Posted:
Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:33 pm
by squirt!
update: the 'specks' now look like aluminum foil... is it a mineral deposit or something? and thank you for the response tammi, i will definitely look into the toothbrush.
Re: Shell Issues

Posted:
Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:38 pm
by tammi
Can you post pictures it would help to decide what's going on if we could see it.
Re: Shell Issues

Posted:
Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:26 am
by steve
A pic would be very helpful. If it has a golden appearance, it sounds like normal shedding.
Re: Shell Issues

Posted:
Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:55 pm
by Tokapeli
are the aluminum foil specks still visible when the turtle is completely dry or just when its underwater? When my turtle starts to shed you can see shiny spots when shes underwater, i think its just the water getting under the loose scutes
Re: Shell Issues

Posted:
Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:02 pm
by squirt!
yeah it looks more translucent when dry and out of water; when it's IN the water that's when it looks like an offwhite/mineral-y color. working on getting the pictures, im still looking for the camera o_O
thanks!