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Shell problem

PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:36 pm
by mybrosteve
One of the baby turtles i got has something wrong with his shell, take a look at the pictures, is this something i should do something about? if so, what should i do? Thanks

The patches are on the bottom left and at the top just left of center.
Image

Image

The shell is also not as rounded out on the right side (with the problem areas) as the left side where nothing is wrong.
Image

PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:25 pm
by steve
Could it be something that's dried on? If not, have you tried the old toothbrush technique? Either way, if it's only affecting the very thin top layer, it should come off when he sheds. just keep an eye on the area to make sure that it's not spreading or becoming soft.

Have you measured them yet?

PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:09 pm
by grey goose
One of my guys had something like that when I first got him (a little smaller tho). It went away after his first shed. It might just be chipped. If it's not softer than the surrounding area or getting larger I wouldnt worry.

PostPosted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:38 pm
by grey goose
Pic #3 is so cute......you should enter it in this months contest. :)

PostPosted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 3:32 pm
by TheOneCalledRed
I haven't seen that before. He probably scrapped his hind against something, maybe even an accident?

PostPosted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:54 pm
by industrial_girl_2000
It looks like a bit of shell damage. How long have you had him? Has he been eating well? Did this damaged area just develop recently? Is there any shell peeling?

Reason why I ask is because the babies are often malnourished before people get them. The sad part about it is that they need a ton of nourishment (especially calcium) right after they hatch, and if they don't get it, shell issues can develop (such as the one side that looks sunken vs. the other side of the shell that is nicely rounded).

Make sure to keep up on the calcium. I would even increase the amount you are feeding him (give him an additional tetra reptomin food stick per day or something like that). He needs to "bulk up" a bit to fill out the shell from the inside.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:39 am
by diyanahomie
both of my pets also have shell problem.. but their patches are like white in colour..
Image
is it some illness?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:48 am
by mybrosteve
industrial_girl_2000 wrote:It looks like a bit of shell damage. How long have you had him? Has he been eating well? Did this damaged area just develop recently? Is there any shell peeling?


I did have a few turtles get out from their "pond" before i put up the cardboard, so that one could have gotten out and taken a good tumble. its not easy to make sure all of them eat, but i will try to put that one aside and try to see if it'll eat some extra.

Thank you all for your help!

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:38 am
by missibsu
diyanahomie wrote:both of my pets also have shell problem.. but their patches are like white in colour..
Image
is it some illness?


Are those spots soft to touch, or do they have an odor? If they aren't, do they rub off with a bit of vinegar? If they rub off with the vinegar, it could just be mineral deposits.

Can you get an upclose shot of one of the spots?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:42 pm
by marisa
When did you notice the problem? In the first pic, the scute looks like it's been damaged somehow. Is the area soft at all or does it have an odor?

The circled areas don't look like mineral deposits to me. A closer pic of the areas, especially the one toward the rear, would be helpful.

PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:54 am
by fungke
my turtle had something similar but it dissapeared after a while.
however....something new appeared...

Image
the line in the middle

is this something i should be concerned about?

PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:59 am
by steve
Pretty normal. Nice, clear pic too.

PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:01 am
by diyanahomie
i'll try the vinegar first then.. hmm, could it be fungus?