Urgent Care :: Help! Shell Peeling & Black Underneath!!

[ExpectingDestiny]

How big is your turtle? 3.25 inches in length
How long have you had it? I have had Squirt for 2 years, and he was a rescue from a student of mine who could not keep him. I have never had any issues with him at all before.

What is the water temperature? 80
Did you use a thermometer? Not usually, but after reading these posts I went and purchased one.
Are you using a water heater? No
How much water is in there? 1/3 Tank
Are you using a water conditioner? No
Are you using any filtration? Yes

What is the basking temperature? 91
Is there a basking light? Yes - however I have suspicions that the student who "hosted" Squirt over the summer did not actually use the light...which is when this problem began (At first it looked like algae)
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? Floating turtle dock
Is there a UVB light? UVA/UVB Bulb

What have you been trying to feed it? Pellets
When was the last time your turtle ate? This morning

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 10 gallons
Is the tank near a window? Yes
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? No

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

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? His shell is peeling off in large chunks, showing a black color underneath. Shell is soft in spots, but black with some white spots. I am super concerned and made an appointment at the vet.

Photos: http://s1287.photobucket.com/albums/a636/squirty-pert/

[steve]

This is the problem with the shell:

Your turtle's shell has fungus. Your turtle has algae over this fungus. Your turtle has retained scutes. Your turtle's scutes are bit malformed from poor diet/habitat conditions.

The good news: Your turtle is shedding. That's the best thing for her right now.

The bad news: Fungal infections make retained scutes more difficult to deal with. Debris and water get stuck underneath and can cause bacterial infections that can eat through the shell.

What to do:
1) You need to invest in a better setup. Your current one is not adequate and you need to consider this as a long-term investment in your turtle's well being.
2) You need to review her diet. Pellets alone are not a complete diet.
3) Gently clean the shell. Go to your local drug store and get some soft toothbrushes and either betadine or hibiclens. If you use hibiclens, dilute it with water (1:1), scrub, rinse and let dry. If you use betadine, dilute it with water (until tea-colored), scrub and let dry. Rinse the shell before you put her back into the tank.
4) You need to carefully inspect the shell, especially look for any soft and sensitive spots. The seams around the scutes are softer and more susceptible but you need to check everywhere.
5) If you can get some silver sulfadiazine cream from the vet, you can use it after your turtle has finished shedding. I wouldn't bother on scutes that are shedding.

Good luck!

[edit: bad english]

[ExpectingDestiny]

Thank you so much Steve! I feel terribly about Squirt's condition. I did begin buying some things last night including water conditioner, thermometer, a stand-alone UVB light & bulb. Unfortunately I can't get into the vet for about a week, so I am even more concerned. Until I can get him in there, I will treat Squirt as you suggested.

I have two questions -
1. When I inspect the shell and find the soft or sensitive spots, what should I do for those spots? Anything?
2. Should I be "dry docking" Squirt for now?? I read some where that will help with the fungal situation.

[steve]

In regards to buying supplies... list what you have and we can try to direct you on what (and why) to get.

If you find a soft spot, gently scrub the area clean and then dry dock your RES for several days. If Squirt is regularly basking, you do not need to dry dock. However, maybe dry dock for a few hours after treatment if you want to.

[ExpectingDestiny]

Thanks so much!! I could not find the "New RES Guide" with the comprehensive checklist, but I did find the feeding schedule to be quite helpful.

I have:
1. 10 gal tank
2. floating turtle dock
3. 1 basking lamp, 1 uvb lamp on a timer
4. Tetra Whisper 20i Carbon Filter
5. Turtle Pellets
6. Water Thermometer, Reptile Thermometer
7. Water Conditioner

My Shopping List- (Not including betadine, and hopefully silver sulfadiazine cream)
1. 40 Gal Tank - Long (As a classroom pet, Squirt has limited space and I am wondering if it is possible to use a 20 gal with a basking dock on top of the tank, like #1 & 12 on this page? http://www.redearslider.com/habitat_gallery.html. Of course I am primarily concerned about his health, so please be honest.)
2. Zoo Med 511 Turtle Tank External Canister Filter
3. Jager Aquarium Heater - 150W - 13 in - 53-79 Gallons & PVC Pipe
4. Bigger Basking Dock Setup - I would like to make a separate dock regardless of tank size, like in the pictures I mentioned above - what do I use for the ramp part?
5. Green & Red Lettuce, Dandelion Greens, Turnip Greens, Shredded Carrots

Thanks again,
Bad, but Learning Turtle Mommy

[ExpectingDestiny]

Also, I made a mistake before.
He is about the length of my iPhone, so that puts him at more like 4 1/2 inches, rather than 3 1/4.

[steve]

It's likely you have a female from the size and pictures. Females grow larger and need more space, so you need to consider that. A 40 gallon would already be considered too small for her, though it's an obvious improvement. A dock above the tank (ATBA - above tank basking area) is certainly doable. You can make one or purchase the Turtle Topper. Skip the Zoo Med filter, look for a better canister. The XP3 or FX5 are the best choices. There are also cheaper chinese-made canisters on eBay.

[ExpectingDestiny]

Thank you!

I thought Squirt was a male because of the claws. What do you think? http://m1287.photobucket.com/albums/squ ... t/?src=www

[steve]

Hard to tell from those pics, can you post a pic of the underside of the tail?

[ExpectingDestiny]

1. I am having trouble getting a picture if the under side of the tail.

2. I have been dry docking over night and "assisting" with the stuck scutes (only touching them when dry seems to make them pop off). While treating him/her with the betadine solution I noticed some pink areas on the belly - which did shed without assistance. I have added a picture. Thoughts?

http://m1287.photobucket.com/albums/squ ... t/?src=www

[steve]

I can't tell from the pics, hopefully this page can help: http://www.redearslider.com/determining_sex.html