Urgent Care :: Minor Shell Break? or Shell rot?

[the_orphaned]

While I was watching my turt today, I noticed that he was shedding. Scutes and whatnot are clearly visible while he was basking. But then I noticed something near one of his scutes... it seems to me a little break on his shell surface. I cant give a more definite picture because of my phone cam... I'll try to get a better picture. there is a little crater about the size of a ball point tip on his shell. I rubbed it a bit and saw bits of shell coming off... Its really small though but I dont know what it is.



He is still active as ever. Swimming around and all. He is also eating well. He basks still. He is actually more energetic than before but this is something new... should I be worried? Or would the shell issue eventually get better as he grows his shell?

[missibsu]

Does the area have a smell at all? Also, there is another post recently about red spots on the shell. There are some good pics in that post of what shell rot looks like. I can't really see much with the pic that you posted.

[the_orphaned]

No it doesnt smell. tried smelling it already. There are no spots. Just a little circular hole. Will put betadine on it for now just in case to disinfect the area.



Here is a better image by the way...

[marisa]

Did he injure/scrape his shell that you know of? How long has he had it? Has the area gotten bigger?

[the_orphaned]

Not that i know of. He had it for a couple of days. I checked a while ago and its gotten a bit bigger. Its just spreading on the area between the scutes. Oh, and he's also shedding. I noticed that the outer areas of his shell have a graying film over the green shell.

I dont know if this little break on his shell is because of shedding or he injured himself or he has shell rot... although I am trying to treat him now for minor shell rot. Starting tomorrow, I will move him for an hour or so to a dry container. I read on turtlepuddle.org that the bacteria that causes shell rot hates air.

I'd take him to a herp vet but so far no luck in finding one here in the Philippines. So I'll just do what I can from here. if there ae any inputs as to what it may be please tell me.

[marisa]

Make sure he's basking under UVB rays (natural sun or UVB light) and that he's getting calcium in the diet.

[the_orphaned]

I'll been giving him cuttlebone for the past week. I also moved his storage to a place where the sun actually hits.

[reptilegrrl]

That looks like shell rot. Shell rot can be bacterial or fungal.

[the_orphaned]

The break looks better now. I think the shell is starting to repair itself now. Also, the cleaner water helped I believe. I'll continue treatment and give you guys updates every once in a while.

I think the basking is helping a lot. Especially now since he is actually basking in an area where there is actually sun light.

I still put betadine on it once a day.

[reptilegrrl]

After using betadine, be sure to keep him out of the water for at least 4 hours. Betadine has a 4-hour residue.

[the_orphaned]

Just an update. he is doing better now. The shell seems to be repairing itself with enough sunlight and calcium. Although I did notice that he basks for the greater part of the day now.

Not that he is lethargic or anything, he just doesnt care. When I pick him up to check him, he'd be all quiet and still for around 40 seconds then start squirming. Then he swims around when I put him back before climbing up to his rock to bask again.

He is most active now during mornings when he wants to be fed. Then spends the rest of the day basking and just lounging around his rock. This is a new behavior that he is displaying and I want to ask if any of you guys encounter this type of behavior as well. Basking around all afternoon after being fed. Is this because he is shedding and wants his shell and skin dry?

[reptilegrrl]

Basking all afternoon sounds extreme. Have you measured the temp of his basking area? It sounds to me like he needs a warmer basking area. His water may be too cold, also.

[marisa]

He's indoors? My RES has recently been basking like crazy since the weather has been warmer, even though the water temp has risen (he's currently indoors).

[the_orphaned]

Right now, water temperature is at 80F. This is due to the tropical weather here in the Philippines. His basking area reaches 86F. Haven't been able to make it reach 90F yet.

Well, he's being kept in an outdoor area with a roof over his head. So the sun actually hits his area in the afternoon. I keep him on the floor so the sun actually hits the water and not the sides of the container.

The lowest his water temperature ever got was actually 78F so I dont think the water is cold. Even at night.

I guess he just loves basking under the lamp. And I think its because he's shedding and the dry skin and shell is less irritable?

[reptilegrrl]

Yeah, sounds like his basking area is not warm enough. He is spending all that time up there in a desperate effort to bask.

It is very important that his basking area be warm enough. His body temperature is completely dependent on the external environment. 90'F is a minimum. His health is dependent on being able to raise his temperature, for a host of bodily functions.