General Care Discussion :: Shell Rot?

[Dominic]

Okay hello everyone! I just got a turtle yesterday so I dont think I cause this.

I took my RES outside to bask since he doesnt seem to like what we have set up for him while doing so I noticed something strange with his shell. There are 3 little places different shapes and sizes that a darker color then his shell,
they have almost little craters in them and I could pull the rest of his shell off. Its almost like 2 layers but the one that is starting to show looks very weird and has little craters as I said. Note, nothing on him is soft or does nto feel like it, I pushed on these little spots and they did not seem squishy.

What can I do to fix this and is this shedding or rot?

[missibsu]

Does it look as though the scutes are shedding?

Is it possible to take a picture of the shell when it is dry and post some pictures?

What is your set up like?

[Dominic]

Does it look as though the scutes are shedding?

Is it possible to take a picture of the shell when it is dry and post some pictures?

What is your set up like?

Well it does look a bit like sheeding but, the current cover of skin or what ever on her shell is bright and vibrant the little 3 patches I can see are very dark and ugly looking. Its as though they have little small holes all over them and the stuff under it looks nothing like its current shell

I sadly cant.

My current set up is a 30 gallon tank nothing special, floating dock under a lamp going out tomorrow for another one.

[Dominic]

Here is a picture I took with my phone so its not the best of quality



As you can see on the top left it has the crater top thing, but on the middle right it looks normal to me.




I took him out to bask and this is what he looked liked

Edit: I just noticed while in the water, there are a silver chromie white blotch or two at the top of his shell, they are not visible when out of water.

[sonyj]

Usually when they are shedding scutes, they will take on a silvery transparent coloring that is more noticeable under water than while out.

But from the top pic, it looks like there is some red discoloration on his shell. That doesn't look like normal shedding... but it's not noticeable in the bottom pic.

[Dominic]

Usually when they are shedding scutes, they will take on a silvery transparent coloring that is more noticeable under water than while out.

But from the top pic, it looks like there is some red discoloration on his shell. That doesn't look like normal shedding... but it's not noticeable in the bottom pic.

I have yet to notice any red but, when in the water I can CLEARLY see this white markings over him.

[sonyj]

It might have been something to do with the pic then. Good to know there's not any red in reality.

[marisa]

Are you sure there's no blood on that one scute?

[Dominic]

Are you sure there's no blood on that one scute?

100% theres no blood unless this blood is very different I checked over and over. Sadly this morning when basking I noticed he had red coloring on a little spot on the back of his sheel, the type that can peel off and be gone but has the little crater type thing under it, I guess this IS shell rot.

We put antibodics on him and let them dry up in the sun. After this I noticed he also had it on the bottom of his shell

I did not buy this turtle sadly but Im guessing he wasnt in good conditions, I couldnt of done this in a little over a day could I?

[missibsu]

No, I seriously doubt that it is something that you did. A lot of turtle illnesses develop over time, and may take some time to present themselves.

What kind of antiobiotic did you put on your turtle?

[sonyj]

I've read that shell rot takes a little while to appear and is usually contributed to poor living conditions. It couldn't have been something that you did in the short time you've had him.

The best thing for him now is to get him to a good herp vet for treatment.