General Care Discussion :: Any Idea what is wrong with shell??

[Genhiphop]

hi all Im new to the Forum

Ive had my buddy for about 3-4 years now and he is really healthy when it comes to eating swimming basking etc. but his shell just doesnt look right to me. does anyone know what I can maybe try to do to improve his shell?? or does it turn darker later in life??

[steve]

Without pics, I'd probably guess melanism. As far as I know, it happens to all male RES. He becomes grayer, the stripes on the skin are not as vibrant and he'll have spots. With my RES, the transition happened quickly as I didn't realize how fast it happened.

[Genhiphop]

Sorry had issues with uploading here is a pic

[Genhiphop]

No one with ideas?? Another guy said it looks like a hypo res to him??

[steve]

Are you sure that he's a male? From the picture, it looks like a fungal infection has covered the shell.

[Genhiphop]

My thinking also how do i go about fixing his shell started yesterday with some iodine cleaning and salt water scrubbing. and I want to see if i can dry dock him during the day.

[steve]

He should be basking for a few hours during the day. What's his tank like? I don't think the iodine or salt water will do much. If there are some loose scutes, it might look better after he sheds but that doesn't cure an infection.


I'd look over this topic when you get the chance: viewtopic.php?t=10839

[Genhiphop]

Hi steve thanks for the advice I managed to get some silver sulpadiazine cream and i started to treat mikey yesterday already noting a difference and a lot of scutes looking like they are starting to dry out. he is being dry docked at the moment and i let him swim for a while in the evenings. Ill post some progress pics tommorow.

thanks for the help guys

[steve]

Good to hear. I might hold off on the treatment until after he sheds, that is if he is shedding.

[Genhiphop]

He is struggling to shed any thing i can do to increase the shedding?? im dry docking him during the to force him to get dry.

[Jeremiah]

To encourage shedding, feed him some Hikari Wheat Germ. In some cases, I've heard that Vitamin E soaks also help.