General Care Discussion :: grove between marginal scutes and the rest

[evilbeef]

This pic is not my turtle. Its too late tonight to go take a pic. But this is pretty much what mine has going on. A very noticable indentiation between the marginal scutes and the rest of them on an otherwise flattish shell. These turtles are much younger than mine. He had been retainig for most of the time ive had him i finally got him to shedd and hes been shedding regularly ever since. Does that have anything to do w it? Between the regular scutes there is also a kind of layering going on. Like grove upon grove upon grove. Its weirdness in the groves but not pointy on the tops like pyramiding.

[steve]

I don't think there's been any in-depth discussion about shell flatness, but it's probably due to diet-related issues early on. Growth-related issues are usually noticeable around the seams. Regular shedding is a very good thing, but I think I might need to see a picture to know what you're asking about specifically.

[evilbeef]

Heres my turtle. See where the margional scutes meet up with the other ones. There are all these little lines and its kinda deep compared to the rest. He is shedding there are places where u can see algea air and water under his scutes. Are the lines a normal part of the process?

[evilbeef]

Looks like my photo fidnt add before here it is

[evilbeef]

I caught him basking. Dry photos are usually more helpfull. I think under all the dry pitted scutes is a nice shell. Its just hes shedding. Right?

[ljapa]

First of all, the coloring on your turtles head is beautiful. I've not seen that much red outside of the "ears". Mine has a hint of a red stripe, but nothing like yours.

That groove you are seeing is layers of scutes that aren't shedding. The most likely issue is basking. How often does your turtle bask? What is the uvb source, and how old is the light?

[evilbeef]

Thank you! Its the reason i bought him. I just had to have him. His light is maybe old? I cant remeber when i got it. Will he shed them off when its corrected? We use an uvb/uva bulb and a heating lamp. Maybe the rock is too low we have a 60 gal tank and its only abt half way full. Could that effect absorption?

[steve]

It should look much better after he sheds regularly.