Urgent Care :: Please help? Rot or not??

[Tye&TinaTurtle]

One of my turtles got a spot of shell rot, I treated it and it all seemed to heal well.. this was about 2 months ago.. since then her shell has looked like the picture below, you cant really see her spots outside of water but they seem to glow under the water. I thought maybe it was just from all the treatment on her shell, until this week my other turtle got a spot just like hers... now I'm wondering if this is something I should be taking her in for or not.. I hate to waste the money if it is just hard water or mineral deposits... What do you think?? please help Im so stressed about it!!

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Can you post a pic of your turtle? The turtle pic you posted has a fungus issue not shell rot. Though you said yours glows under water. Fungus wont do that but a turtle shedding will have that look. Usually golden spots, not white. Hardwater deposits will give your turtle an even coating of white all over the shell not random spots like the pic above. Also you said you cant see the spots once outside the water. Again sounds like shedding to me more then a fungus. A pic really would help.

[Tye&TinaTurtle]

This is my Tye with the "new" spots, you can see 2 little spots on his shell... he is dry.

This is Tina, she seems to have them everywhere, she is dry in this photo. they look gold under water

tina again

[steve]

Looks like an older fungus infection. Do you have pics of the earlier "shell rot" infection? What did you use for treatment?

[Tye&TinaTurtle]

I don't but hers basicly looked like his does now, but it was soft so I dug it out and used iodine and antibiotic ointment, and would keep her dry a few hours a day. I assumed it was "rot" because she never gets up to bask! His doesn't seem soft at all! SO what do I do about fungal infections? how serious are they? Should I just take them both in?

[steve]

Have you seen this thread? viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10839

When's the last time they shed?

[Tye&TinaTurtle]

Its been a really long tims since she shed, probably 4 months for him. I'll read the thread... I work so hard with these turtles, it makes me sick to think I may be doing something wrong. When I got them a year ago, they where in a 20 gallon tank with 3 inches of water, I've spent over 500$, countless hours, and many sleepless night to make sure they are healthy and happy... it breaks my heatrt to think I've failed in any way.

[Tye&TinaTurtle]

Okay, I read the thread.. Found it enlightening. Tye has also had brown almost blistering on his skin... I found a website (FINALLY) that covered that, stating it was a fungus... kind of a scary one...
I was able to find both products mentioned in that thread on Amazon.... do you think I should buy it and start using it along with 18-21 hours dry docking? or just spend the money on a vet and pay the extra money for the meds threw them?? Im drawn to keep trying this on my own, but dont want to buy whats is shown on amazon and find its NOT the same stuff and hurt my little friends.... ON the flip side I know the vet is going to cost me an arm and a leg.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

The vet bill shouldnt be to bad. Maybe $80. If you take the vet route. It clears up the fungus very fast. It will be gone before you know it. The home amazon route can be slow to clear it up but it works.

[steve]

Before trying SSD, make sure your setup is perfect. A reoccurring infection would be much more difficult to treat. Skin fungus is usually much more easier and successful to treat.

[Tye&TinaTurtle]

I feel like their set up is pretty flawless... with one exception being my female cant seem to climb up to bask, for now she is getting natrual sun I will have to improve her ramp before winter. I also need to get some PH strips.. something I never knew I needed until this infection issue! but they are kept clean, I have a fantasic filtration system, and they have a basking platform which I keep heated 8 hours a day, their water is usually around 85-90 degree's but drops a little when I turn off the lights. they have resting areas, calcium bones, turtle pelets, feeder fish, and sometimes cranberries (which they LOVE). I have a 55 galon tank which I know should be a little bigger but for now it has to do. I will call the vet today and work the numbers.

[steve]

I would suspect lack of basking the primary element in shell fungus. What are the PH strips for? If you want to test water quality, look into the API freshwater master test kit (Amazon usually has a good price on it).

[Tye&TinaTurtle]

Oh okay, I've just read over and over the ph matters lately. Cool, thanks so much I will oder the master test kit!

[Tye&TinaTurtle]

Just an update on my turtles for anyone who may be having the same issues. After reading the link posted above I tried my best to get my hands on some SILVER SULFADIAZINE, turned out my Dr's office had some 1% samples in the office and gladly gave me some. I started applying it to their shells 2 days ago along with 18-20 hours of "dry time" outside in the sun during the day, and in a excersize pen in my house during the night, with their lights set up on one side of the pen so they have the option for a warm spot if they choose.
I simply can NOT believe the improvment they have shown already, Tina's shell is almost clear up top, her outer shell still has a ways to go, but at the rate its clearing Im sure I will be doing this routine no more then 10 days before they are completely cleared up. I'm a happy turtle mommy!

[steve]

Awesome to hear. Just remember, make sure they get plenty of basking in the tank and the water quality is the best. If the fungus comes back, the cream might not work at all (as was in my situation).