Urgent Care :: Is this Shell Rot?

[Pugwinkle]

Percy is a 9 year old Map turtle. He loves to bask and is very active and eats very well. He has recently lost a large scute and it appears to be pitted and simply doesn't look right. If this is shell rot, can you please advise me what to do next. I have read several different methods for treating shell rot but I thought I would come to you guys for expert advice. I hope the photos upload.

[Pugwinkle]

Anyone have any insight on whether this is shell rot? I don't want to start messing with Percy if it's not shell rot as he is a very skittish turtle. He is eating well and I'd hate to stress him out for no reason.

[steve]

Not sure if its shell rot, you will need to take him out and do a gently cleaning around the area, then investigate. It does look like there is something wrong, so if this is a new change then I would check it out thoroughly.

[Pugwinkle]

Hi Steve! Thanks for the reply. Since I hadn't heard from anyone I decided to take him out of his tank and check him out. I did a gentle cleaning of the area with a toothbrush. It's not mushy at all and no smell is coming from the area. I do see two small pits in the shell but I think for now I will simply keep my eye on it. I think stressing him out doing a complete two week treatment for shell rot may be worse for him as far as stress is concerned than what is actually going on with his shell. Do you think that makes sense?

[steve]

Any shedding around that area? If you gently press down, does water seep out? Any idea why it looks darker in that spot? I understand the dilemma, I would just make sure there is no infection rather than do this as a precaution.

[Pugwinkle]

Hi Steve, yes he had just recently shed a big scute (well almost all of it) and that is when I noticed this darker colour under the scute and began to worry. When I took him out of the water I pressed on the area and it was just as hard as the rest of his shell. No water was seeping out. Not sure why that area is darker. Could it be from shedding the scute?? Through the nine years I have had Percy I have almost never seen him shed his scutes. It's only been the last 6 months that I have actually seen him lose a scute.

[steve]

The spots with algae and darker scutes, thats where he has shed?

I guess just keep it clean and a very close eye on the area. Any new changes and get it examined. Color changes to his scutes should be reflected in the others as well, so this is unusual and warrants some monitoring.

[Pugwinkle]

Yes that's where he has shed. I will keep a close eye on him. Thx Steve!

[steve]

Hopefully that explains it!

[Pugwinkle]

Well the fact that he is his old self. Eating, happily swimming around with his fish friends and basking, it makes me feel better. I will keep a very close eye on him.