Urgent Care :: Help! Adopted Map Turtle Broken Shell/Shell Rot/Fungus

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Post Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 7:12 pm   Help! Adopted Map Turtle Broken Shell/Shell Rot/Fungus

I work at a small pet store and we get reptiles dropped off all the time and all kinds of animals. A few days ago we had a small map turtle dropped off (I wasn't there to ask the necessary questions about him) so my coworker knows I have RES's and asked if I would take him. Naturally I said yes because a turtle in need is a friend indeed (harhar). Anyway, upon receiving this little guy I was horrified to see the condition of his shell. My RES's have never had any shell problems (despite being overfed when they were young :roll: ) so when I saw this I was astounded that someone could allow their turtle's shell to get this bad. I mean I don't know if I'm looking at shell rot, retained scutes (and thus shell rot), or if he's got a fungus, or both. I definitely know he's got broken scutes on the sides of his shell and the entire back right area seems really week to the point where I'm thinking he might've been crushed under something.
I was hoping to put him in with my RES's (they're all roughly the same size about 4.5-5inches long (I have 2 RES's in a recently upgraded 65 gallon with an ATBA and a Fluval 406)). However if he's got a fungus than I heard that can spread to other turtles right? And I don't know too much about shell rot. I read that it can be cured but I'm not really sure how.
My RES's tend to ignore each other and, naturally if there were any issues with the introduction of this Map (i.e. fighting or anything of that nature) then this Map would have to find a new home (aka. my local turtle rescue). However I kinda doubted there would be any fighting issues, certainly not at this age and size anyway.
However, if this little guy has a broken shell that might complicate things severely. I do not have another water tank that I can set up for him. The best I could do would be a 10 gallon which is unacceptable in turtle standards.
I have no idea what he was fed or if he's even eating. I tried to brush off some of the algae (there was a LOT of it on his shell) with the soft side of a sponge just so I could access the damage but his shell is still really messed up. So I need much needed advice and I need it ASAP.
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Last edited by Wolfsbane1701 on Fri Aug 01, 2014 8:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2 RES -Olive & Scooter
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Post Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 7:14 pm   Re: Help! Adopted Map Turtle has shell issues! (pics incl.)

Here are the rest of the pictures.
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This is the major issue on his stomach. If I push down on it water comes out, which makes me think it's a retained scute but I'm afraid there might be underlying issues so I'm afraid to poke too much at it.
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Here's the belly
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2 RES -Olive & Scooter
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2014 3:57 am   Re: Help! Adopted Map Turtle Broken Shell/Shell Rot/Fungus

Retained scutes does not mean shell rot. There is fungus. Pitting indicates previous infection... if there are retained scutes now, there is a chance active infections as well. It does look like shell rot on the plastron but I cannot confirm it.

I'd try to gently clean him up again. Using diluted betadine or hibiclens (chlorhexidine) give him a gentle scrub with a toothbrush.

The missing areas might have been from infection or injury as you noted. If they have not healed, they need to be cared for immediately.

Fungus is definitely contagious, so I'd keep him away from your other turtles. Anything can cause fighting or territorial issues.

You don't have to use a standard aquarium for him but you might want to look into that rescue for help. I'd even have some x-rays done to check for internal damage.
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2014 2:19 pm   Re: Help! Adopted Map Turtle Broken Shell/Shell Rot/Fungus

Thank you for getting back to me. I cleaned up his shell as much as I possibly could, there were a lot of places where the scutes would flake off and reveal the pitted holes beneath it, so I was able to clean those out as best as I could as well. The scute on his belly came right off so I was able to clean under there as well. I know you're not supposed to remove scutes on any turtle however these ones would just flake right off so I presumed it was okay to do that, especially since I needed to clean underneath them.

He does have one scute on his back right side, towards the edge, which is indeed broken. It will not come off and there is no blood or pus or anything at the breakage site so I figured my best bet was to leave it be for now. If it gets worse I will have no choice but to seek medical help for him.

He is eating and pooping regularly, I have him dry docked for now (with an hour a day in the water so he can eat and rehydrate, etc.). He has a UVB bulb and a heat bulb in his dry dock container and he seems to be doing very well considering the damage his shell underwent.

I'm not 100% certain on the treatment for fungus but I'm presuming that having him dry docked with regular shell cleanings once or twice a day, should be a good treatment for both possible shell rot and fungus. Is this correct?

Thank you again for your answers!
2 RES -Olive & Scooter
1 Mississippi Map- Pike
1 Dogs, 3 Cats, 2 Bettas, 1 African Dwarf Frog, multiple African Cichlids, and-finally-1 Pleco.
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2014 1:05 am   Re: Help! Adopted Map Turtle Broken Shell/Shell Rot/Fungus

What do you see between the crack? I would be concerned about any necrotic tissue. Treatment for fungus usually involves a prescription of silver sulfadiazine cream.
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steve
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2014 11:22 am   Re: Help! Adopted Map Turtle Broken Shell/Shell Rot/Fungus

try using a rubermaid storage tub
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