General Care Discussion :: why is my turtle's shell turning white?

[michael247]

what is it?!

[untsmurf]

He's probably just shedding.

[SpotsMama]

I also think he's probably getting ready to shed. When you press gently on one of those scutes, does any water ooze out?

Try this. Soak a q tip in some white vinegar and rub one of the white spots with it gently. Does the white come off? If so, then it's mineral deposits from hard water.

Can you give us an update in a couple of weeks on how he's doing? We need to be sure there's no fungus infection.

[GThiele93]

I'm Inexperinced but i would say they look like "build up's"(deposits) of some sort?

[marisa]

It looks more like air is getting under the scutes, causing some areas to whiten as they begin to loosen and get ready to shed.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I agree that he looks like he is getting ready to shed a layer of scutes.

Turtles' shells grow from the inside out & the older layer of shell will peel off from time to time. It's normal for them to shed like this.

[michael247]

yep everything its fine now. thanks for all help

[emma]

So his shell is all back to normal?

[michael247]

yep

[emma]

thats great!

[Blue Flamingo]

I agree with the shedding theory. By the way I really like your avatar it makes me smile and chuckle (an inner chuckle that is).

[SpotsMama]

Did the turtle actually shed his scutes? Or did the white just go away?

[iac637]

they actually shed them just a layer of them like you do a layer of skin

[SpotsMama]

Iac, do you mean this specific turtle shed his scutes, or that turtles in general shed scutes like we shed skin?

[iac637]

ohhh from the sound of it that this turtle shed its scutes