Urgent Care :: Rescued RES, bad shell pyramiding.

[Scharfster]

Hi, I just got a rescued male RES, not sure what age, maybe around 3 years old, and his shell is already pyramided, I dunno if it's that bad, but it's still not good. What ways can I prevent future pyramiding to get him healthy again? Strictly vegetable diet [green/red leaf lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, etc]? Or is he still allowed a few pellets of Saki-Hikari Turtle every other day or so?

[steve]

You can still use pellets everyday, but cut down a lot. Veggies should be the main part of diet. Some shedding should help smooth shell out but not all of it unfortunately. Is she getting calcium/UVB?

[Scharfster]

Yeah he is, and I'm actually planning on going out today and getting a few of those calcium bones for him just in case. I'm glad I got him when I did, who knows how much longer he'd live. Well he would probably have lived, but very painfully.

[steve]

Cuttlebone with the backing removed is a good source of calcium. Don't get Turtle Bones or those little white turtle blocks. Her diet should provide most of the calcium she needs though.