Urgent Care :: YES has problems shedding?

[Vuus]

First I have to apologies for my bad English, its only my second language.

I suspect my yes turtle has trouble shedding. Its been like this for quite some time. (If everything works out, you're suppose to se pics further down. I am doing this from my phone.)

I've read that weat pellets can help, but hoim much am I suppose to feed him, and for how long?
Also read something about blueberrys, do they work to? And if so how much and for how long?

Really appreciate any answers I can get!

/Marcus from Sweden

How big is your turtle? About 4inches
How long have you had it?11months

What is the water temperature?24℃
Did you use a thermometer?yes
Are you using a water heater?yes
How much water is in there?about 200liters
Are you using a water conditioner?
Are you using any filtration?yes

What is the basking temperature?35-40℃
Is there a basking light?yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on?yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of?plastic homemade
Is there a UVB light?yes, and I changed it after 7months

What have you been trying to feed it?
Feeding schedule;
Monday: vegetables and zoo med pellets
Tuesday: vegetables
wednesday: vegetables and zoo med pellets
Thursday: vegetables
Friday: vegetables
Saturday: vegetables and zoo med pellets
Sunday: vegetables
and the occasional freezedried shrimp/fish.
I also use calcium and vitamins.
When was the last time your turtle ate?
eats without any problem every day.

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure?200 liters
Is the tank near a window? no
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity?yes, but he doesn't get stressed out very often.

Have you read the Basic Care section?yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations?yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms?nope

[steve]

Hi Marcus,

The best way to encourage shedding is with basking. Preferably outdoors under the Sun. If the turtle is indoors, make sure he has plenty of basking time, UVB and calcium in his diet. Wheat germ pellets are believed to help too. Just substitute his regular pellets once or twice a week. I mix it with two other types of pellets, so it's sort of a "blend". Some people think blueberries help, though I don't think there is any evidence behind it. It can still be used as a treat, so it's fine to give it to your turtle.

[penelope]

A little bit of soft sweet potato one a week is pretty good over time.
The color on the pic is kind of hot pink. Sort of hard to see if it's shedding or something else.
PS.....welcome to the forum. Sweden? That is new for me

[Vuus]

Thanks for the replies!
I am now letting the heat bulb at the basking area stay on over night. Just to give him more hours of basking time.

I did not find any weat germ pellets, at my two local pet stores, but I am going to spend the following weekend in London, and hopefully find some there!

Thanks for the welcome! I've been checking out the forum for almost a year, and its given me both knowledge and inspiration! Loving it!

[Into_the_Mystic]

I dont think it's a good idea to leave the lights on at night. They need to be on a normal day/night scheudule with the timing of the lights. 12 hours total max I think it is.

Also, you can take him out for about an hour a day and walk around like I do. Mine enjoys it and it lets his shell be dry for an hour. Just keep your eyes on him so he doesn't get lost or stuck someplace.

[Vuus]

I only keep the heating lamp (the one over the basking area) on all the time. The "main light" in the tank shuts off every evening!
And I only started doing this last week. Just to let him get some extra basking time in during the night, if he now needs it. Otherwise I use a timer for all my lights.

[Ant]

Also keep in mind if you have something in the tank that he or she can rub its shell against it will help.

[Vuus]

Yes I actually do have two big rocks, and a big fake plant that he loves to "dig into" and scratch himself with. It looks kinda funny!

[steve]

If you have a submersible water heater, there is no need to have the basking light on at night.

[penelope]

Basking is really a combination of two things: Heat to dry the shell and UVB.
Basically, it is meant to imitate sunlight and warmth.
Basking area warmth without UVB has little or no health value.

Keep the basking area warm during the day to coax him out of the water, dry his shell and get UVB.
Keep the water temperature warm enough to coax him into the water to sleep when the basking lights are out.
Stick with the timer.

I use basking lights on a timer (12 hours). When those turn off, I leave a light on over the water (not the basking area) for about an hour as a transition. Then it's lights out until morning.
12 hours basking; 1 hour "night light," 11 hours darkness.