General Care Discussion :: Fungal infection on skin and Scute build up

[Mimi2cas]

I have been fighting a fungal infection on Yertles head for a while now. Took him to the nearest herpe vet ( of course he would not really pop his head out for the vet to see) and got some silver sulfadiazine. I took him out once a day and swabbed a thin layer on to his head(not that he was much help since he pulled his head in) then dry docked him for a couple of hours then returned him to his basking platform and tank. I have to add that Yertle likes to be talked to but does not like to be picked up and held I wear gloves cause he will bite, can make it difficult to do much with him. I thought that we had gotten rid of the fungus but it's back. I still have the silver sulfadiazine and will start using it again but after doing some reading here it looks like I may not be dry docking him long enough.

Also, would giving him a cleaning with hibicleanse before I apply the medicine be good idea?

I would like to dock him over night but have few questions: do I need to provide heat source of some type to keep him from getting too cold? It is spring in Maine ( finally ) but the house still gets very cool at night, I plan on using a cardboard box with a lid (holes too) and some towels in the bottom. I do not want to get him too cold then return him to his warm enclosure, I am afraid it could send him into shock.

Is ph an issue for turtles? I have acidic water and I balance the ph in my fish tanks but not in the turtle tank, I use a water conditioner remove any bad stuff ( we have a well so no chlorine), i add stability for the cycling (Seacham products) and API Sludge destroyer to help break down his waste. I never saw any posts about ph so I never worried about it.

He is still not shedding well and has build up of scutes, I feed him Reptomin and the Jell-O shot recipe I found here ( more shots than pellets the pellets are just occasional and they mixed into the Jell-O shots) 3 times a week, should I add the hikari wheat germ pellets to his diet to help get him to shed?

I also plan on taking him outside for 30 minutes a day on warm sunny days ( we are still mostly in the 60's here but are getting more 70+ degree days as we move toward summer, is 30 minutes enough? He has a 100w mega Ray basking light supplemented with regular uv light to increase the temperature on his basking platform to about 95 according to the thermometer in the back of the platform. I mostly use the extra light during winter as it gets so cold here, to provide the extra heat.

One last question, I cleaned out the tank and filter ( Cascade 700) yesterday and noticed a build up of stuff in the intake and outtake where the hoses attach to the canister. It makes me suspect that it may be helping to cause the return of the fungus, does anyone know of a good way to clean the top interior of a Cascade? I thought about a bleach solution but am afraid it might damage the pump.

If I can I will post some pictures if he will cooperate. Any advice would be very appreciated. Thanks.

[steve]

Can you post a picture of the head? For skin fungus, dry docking usually helps a lot. Usually a swap with Betadine and an optional application of Neosporin is all that's needed. It's interesting that this has returned at the same location. Hibiclens is better but harder to work with.

When you dry dock him overnight, can you keep it in a warm room? If Yertle is a few years old, it's OK if it's a little cool. Mid-60's is fine. Make sure he has something to burrow under (like a clean shirt).

pH can be issue, but it's usually not a big deal. What is it measuring at? Instead of water conditioner, try activated carbon. How big is the tank?

I think wheat germ helps. As much time as you can give him outside is good, provided it's a safe and secure. Some type of enclosure and supervision is recommended. If the mega ray is a MVB, then no need for another UV bulb.

Filters will always get a build up of some waste and some beneficial bacteria. A wipe down should be enough.