General Care Discussion :: Indentions in young RES shell?

[Attackontitanturts]

I have four young Red eared sliders. I did have issues with over feeding (oopsie on my part) but it has been corrected. But recently when I took all the babies out for sun time I noticed that one has indented scutes? It looks like his she'll is soft and caving in even though it's not, it's hard and completely normal aside from that. I'm so so so worried about my baby! I have no idea what it is!

[steve]

How bad is it? Shell deformities usually don't completely go back to normal, but can look much better over time with proper shedding.

[Attackontitanturts]

How bad is it? Shell deformities usually don't completely go back to normal, but can look much better over time with proper shedding.

It's pretty bad. And I haven't ever noticed it since now

[steve]

Would you be able to post a picture? Is the shell hard or discolored?

[Attackontitanturts]

Would you be able to post a picture? Is the shell hard or discolored?

It's actually happening with a few of my turtles, with varying degrees of severity. Here is photos of two different turtles and their shells. I just don't understand what is happening?

[steve]

It's usually a combination of things... not enough uvb, too much protein, and inconsistent feedings. It should smoothen up a bit once those are corrected, but may not be perfectly smooth.

[Attackontitanturts]

It's usually a combination of things... not enough uvb, too much protein, and inconsistent feedings. It should smoothen up a bit once those are corrected, but may not be perfectly smooth.

That just seems odd to me because they are on a fairly strict schedule. They get plenty of uvb also

[steve]

Are they fed together? Anyone sneaking food to them? How much are you using?

[Attackontitanturts]

Are they fed together? Anyone sneaking food to them? How much are you using?

Yes they are all fed together, I have four. And I will admit that one of them is shy so he doesn't get as much but he also seems to be the healthiest?
Nobody is sneaking food.
I feed them about four pellets of Baby RES food each every other day and once every other week they get greens/fruit/a little bit of chicken.

[steve]

Has the feedings always been consistent?

[Attackontitanturts]

Has the feedings always been consistent?

No, I used to feed them wayy too much and wayy too often. Sometimes I would feed them large amounts twice a day. But that was at least a month or two ago. A few years ago I got a RES from a petshop and that's what they told me to feed him so that's what I did, I didn't know the mistake I was making. And that habit stuck when I got these little guys.

[steve]

That probably explains it. It'll take a long time before you see any improvement with shells.

[Attackontitanturts]

That probably explains it. It'll take a long time before you see any improvement with shells.

Will it cause any problems? Or is it just superficial

[steve]

From the looks of it, it won't do any internal damage. Shedding might take longer though or be more stubborn, so you need to stay on top of that.