General Care Discussion :: white lines on shell

[theartbook35]

I've seen pictures over the internet of turtles with white lines across their scutes. They don't look like shedding to me at all, it's a perfect straight line (not like the yellow lines at all, isn't even in the same pattern or direction), and I was wondering what that is caused by, and if it's unhealthy, what to do to prevent it from happening, and, does it go away when the turtle sheds?

[SpotsMama]

Can you provide one of the photos on here, or give us a link?

[shellieInIreland]

I dont know if this in the right place but its because of a white mark on my oldest turtles back, theres one white mark it looks like tippex and two white spots. anyone know what is wrong. his shell is nice and hard.

[SpotsMama]

Shellie, you'll get better responses if you start your own thread. And when you do, be sure to include photos. It's really hard to tell what's going on without clear photos. The photo should be as closeup as you can get AND keep it in focus, and should be of the turt's shell when it is dry.

For someone who doesn't have a digital camera, try searching the forum for photos of shells that look similar to yours. Or, you can google.

Thanks!

[drtweak]

Mine does as well. It seems as if between the cracks its kinda white, and seems to almost come off too as time goes by...I'll take a pic and post it of what mine looks like

EDIT:

Click on my link in my SIG, Then go to Spike. Last two pics.

[marisa]

If you're talking about a whitish area/line down the spine, this isn't uncommon in small hatchlings.

White in between the scutes in the seam (line in between the scutes could be a number of things---dried debris, residue from something in the tank, for example. A pic of what you're talking about (artbook) would be good.

drtweak, Spike is in the water in those last two pics, is he not? The white that I see in the seam looks like growth. Does he look as white when he's dry?

[theartbook35]

If you're talking about a whitish area/line down the spine, this isn't uncommon in small hatchlings.

White in between the scutes in the seam (line in between the scutes could be a number of things---dried debris, residue from something in the tank, for example. A pic of what you're talking about (artbook) would be good.

drtweak, Spike is in the water in those last two pics, is he not? The white that I see in the seam looks like growth. Does he look as white when he's dry?

I keep trying to find the picture I found and it's being a jerk to find.

I'm not talking about the seams, it's a white line going across the scute, not sitting in between.

They should have a giant internet resource site with nothing but clear photographs of every kind of injury encountered in captivity among turtles, and a list of what look like injuries but actually aren't.

[SpotsMama]

I found this photo in the Gallary. It's a basically lovely turtle with a nice shell with some white lines on it. Is this the sort of thing you are seeing?

And I agree with you about the big collection of photos of turtle shells. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

[shellieInIreland]

i will try post a photo, but its not the lines at all it does like the white marking but not as a line, does that make sense? its on the back of his shell and it doesnt rub off. i'll go see can i take a photo to upload

[theartbook35]

i will try post a photo, but its not the lines at all it does like the white marking but not as a line, does that make sense? its on the back of his shell and it doesnt rub off. i'll go see can i take a photo to upload

See, that's the thing I'm talking about... (I still can find that picture. I saw it weeks ago and it just now popped back into my brain)

Spotsmama, what I'm referring to and shedding are two completely different things. But yeah, it would just help people have a good reference to identify what is wrong with their turtle, so they can go see a vet or cure it at home if need be. It'd save people a lot of hassle and vet trips, plus money. Vets don't always solve everything in one visit, sometimes they take a look, and give you the come back tomorrow/in a week BS, and in the meantime, your pet is still sick. That's what they did about my cat's tooth but she had to go to the vet because they were the only ones who could remove it correctly and safely. Poor girl had to wait a week... I eventually told my mother, if I knew how to remove that tooth the right way I'd do it myself.

Does it help that in one of the pictures, one of the lines was a bright off white and completely symmetrical?

[megcornell]

I understand what you're describing I think: It's a white line ON the scute correct?
If it's not on every scute, I'd imagine it's due to some sort of minor injury like rubbing up against something a little too hard, etc.
So long as the mark isn't changing and there's no sign of serious shell damage I'd assume with a few sheds the line would vanish.

[theartbook35]

I understand what you're describing I think: It's a white line ON the scute correct?
If it's not on every scute, I'd imagine it's due to some sort of minor injury like rubbing up against something a little too hard, etc.
So long as the mark isn't changing and there's no sign of serious shell damage I'd assume with a few sheds the line would vanish.

That sounds right to me, it really does. Thank you for all your responses, it's a big deal to me. I knew it wasn't a serious thing, but I still wanted to know what it is and what to do before I dare go near a vet. Vet hospitals are a evil, necessary money trap.

I wasn't gonna say this originally, because I didn't want anyone jumping on me cause I'm new here and all. My turtle, Typhoon, has had that white line for a while, across her scute. It doesn't rub off, doesn't change shape or color, isn't soft or smelly, doesn't even look like a scratch. It's perfectly symmetrical, too. She isn't acting sick, she has tons of energy and is eating and pooping normally. It appeared right after I got the new stuff for the tank, and I wonder if a certain mother I live with might have bonked her with the tunnel when she "wanted to see them so badly". My mother is not allowed to feed or handle the turtles, because they first of all don't know her, and she gives into their begging. She's such a dingbat, and then has the nerve to try to tell me how to take care of them. She's never owned, raised and handled a turtle before, like she'd know. Back when I had them on the protein diet (haha guess what, no pyramiding!! they were so weak and thin when we got them, the protein buffed them up, without adding weight gain or causing harm to the shell) when they were under six months of age, before they started wanting pellets, she dumped twenty of them in the tank, and I came home to foamy water and angry turtles. They were so stressed out, and I had to clean that tank for so long to get all the crud out. My father may have bought them, but I'm the one who takes care of them, and if anybody messes with my babies I'm gonna be the angriest mom on the block.

(I will provide a picture of Typhoon soon, I promise, just need to find the right moment to ask my dad if I can borrow his camera... I wanna take pictures of the tank too. It's not perfect but they really like it, and that's what counts to me).

[Butterslucy211]

My turtle has this and I'm worried I don't know why IMG_2084.jpg

[Jeremiah]

Butterslucy, it might be a little more convenient for you and the other members if you started a new thread with a link to this old one, rather than reviving an entire discussion. Also, your image doesn't seem to link to anything--could you upload from Photobucket?