Urgent Care :: Soft shell not near the tail.

[B_INX]

My turtle, Brownie, I believe to be female because there was no fanning ever, she's around 2 years old? And, as big as a sandwich.

Yesterday, my mom and sister told me that her shell at the bottom of her right hind leg is jagged, rough and peeling. It's a bit tender when you feel it too.
This has never happened to her ever and it's worrying me if she lacks calcium.

I don't have the light bulbs for my turtles because when I looked at it, I never really needed it because they're placed in a sunny (but not overly hot) area. And, like I said, this has never happened to her ever and she's already 2 years old.

I've tried cuttlebone on my previous turtles but they just don't eat it and I don't really know how to go about it. I've tried cutting it but my turtles before never bothered eating it so, I'm kind of scared that Brownie might not eat it either.

So, what do I do to help my baby??

[dumbork14]

hello! can you post a picture?

[B_INX]

I'm sorry if the photo isn't all that clear. But, if you can see, there's a slight crack and and it's like it's rotting...

It looks a lot more horrible than what my sister and mom explained to me.

[steve]

I can't tell what's going on in the pic. Is there any odor or fluids around it? When you gently press down on it, does the turtle react? Does water seep out? Has your turtle ever shed? Can you take a clearer pic, once the area is dry? Any other issues?

You might have a boy too.

[B_INX]

Oh yeah, sorry. Here's another one! I hope it's better now..



There's a crack and a bit of the shell seems to have chipped off.

There's no smell, really... Or none that I could smell. When I press on it, water seeps out. And the tail tries to hide even more. Yeah, Brownie has shed before. Other than that, my baby seems pretty fine.

[steve]

It doesn't seem like a normal shed. Can you see what's happening underneath?

[B_INX]

I tried lifting it but it wouldn't come up. Also, I tried pressing the area again and, this time, no water came out and Brownie didn't react to the pressing at all. I looked on the side of the affected area (where the hole is for his leg is) and the crack, or whatever it is, doesn't seem to have gone that far. Like, it's only on the surface of the shell.

Still, I don't know what it is and it's still soft (the affected area) but hard enough to not be lifted.

[steve]

Don't try to force anything, though maybe shine a flashlight to see if you can take a better look. Is the entire area around it firm?

[B_INX]

I tried with a flashlight and it really just looks like that (in the photo above). I can't see anything beneath the affected area.

And, yes! The area around it is firm.

Could it be a mild shell rot? I did a little research and I think that could be it..

[steve]

I don't think it's shell rot, but it does look like some damage to that outer scute layer.

[B_INX]

It's not?! Oh, thank you. That really makes me feel better. But, if it's not, then, what is it? Brownie did fall like a month back but I didn't really notice if there was an effect on his shell. His perfectly normal now, eats, sleeps, poops, still very active and moves around for a turtle as big as a sandwich, haha. So, could that be it? That he fell long ago??

Also, I'm really confused now. Is my turtle a boy or a girl? Haha

[apondfortimmy]

I laughed at your description of "as big as a sandwich" and I made my hands into a sandwich-sized shape and smiled. That's a good sized turtle.

[steve]

I'm still not sure what it so I would keep a close eye on it. Perhaps you want to regularly check on it and give it a gentle scrub then rinse it out. It looks like the scute might be coming off prematurely but that's only a guess. If there is no noticeable improvement, I would have a set of experienced eyes examine her.

[B_INX]

I laughed at your description of "as big as a sandwich" and I made my hands into a sandwich-sized shape and smiled. That's a good sized turtle.

Hehe, glad that that made you happy!

Brownie's really fat though, haha. She's scared of everything so, she hides all the time. But, she's fat so... Her limbs still kind of stick out. Hahaha!

[B_INX]

I'm still not sure what it so I would keep a close eye on it. Perhaps you want to regularly check on it and give it a gentle scrub then rinse it out. It looks like the scute might be coming off prematurely but that's only a guess. If there is no noticeable improvement, I would have a set of experienced eyes examine her.

Okay! I'll update this in case I have any more questions about it since it seems it's going to take a while before I have a definite answer on what it really is.


Thank you so much on your help, btw! Worry would have been the death of me without this forum.