General Care Discussion :: Shell concern

Taking care of your turtle's overall health.

Post Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 11:38 am   Shell concern

For some time now, Rúaidhrí's shell has had white areas on it. For the longest time, we assumed it was hard water spots as our water is full of minerals here and the areas are neither soft nor do they have an odour. That said, I'm now not so certain that it isn't dry shell rot. I am posting photos below.

He has both a heat lamp and a UVB lamp on his basking platform, which he uses regularly. The water temp is 79-80 F and we do weekly 40-60% water changes in a 125 gal tank with 3 Eheim 2217 filters.

I wanted to get an opinion before starting treatment, most likely with chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine.

Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this.
Attachments
thumbnail_IMG_1566.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_1564.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_1563.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_1561.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_1560.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_1559.jpg
User avatar
Longhorn
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Sep 20, 2020
Location: Fort Bend Co., Texas
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 7:04 pm   Re: Shell concern

It’s definitely fungus. Before starting treatment, you need to make sure that you will be able to prevent it from reoccurring. A repeat infection will not be as easily treatable. You’ll also need to have a dry dock area for when you have the cream on.
User avatar
steve
Site Admin
 
Posts: 31430
Joined: Apr 11, 2005
Location: New York, NY
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 7:26 pm   Re: Shell concern

Thanks Steve.

Fortunately, we have a collapsible pet pool that he can roam in while dry docked. I’m not certain why he picked it up. He was housed with another of our turtles and she is fine. I know he was warm, dry and had good waters.
User avatar
Longhorn
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Sep 20, 2020
Location: Fort Bend Co., Texas
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 6:32 am   Re: Shell concern

I couldn't tell you where it comes from either, but this fungus gets around. The pet pool sounds like a good idea, let me know how the treatment goes!
User avatar
steve
Site Admin
 
Posts: 31430
Joined: Apr 11, 2005
Location: New York, NY
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 6:57 am   Re: Shell concern

Finally received the chlorhexidine and the silver sulfadiazine. Scrubbed him with Chlor & a toothbrush, waited 10 minutes, did it again and then after 10 more minutes put a thin layer of the silver cream on him. After about 35 minute, I put him back in the tank. He was not a happy camper! I'll do this for a week-10 days and see what the results are.
User avatar
Longhorn
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Sep 20, 2020
Location: Fort Bend Co., Texas
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 9:51 am   Re: Shell concern

Did you wipe off the excess cream before putting him back into the tank?
User avatar
steve
Site Admin
 
Posts: 31430
Joined: Apr 11, 2005
Location: New York, NY
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 10:21 am   Re: Shell concern

I actually just used a thin layer and allowed him to dry dock for another 30-45 minutes. There wasn't any excess to wipe.

This is the cream:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0796 ... UTF8&psc=1

and this is the wash that I used with a toothbrush:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H ... UTF8&psc=1
User avatar
Longhorn
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Sep 20, 2020
Location: Fort Bend Co., Texas
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2021 12:04 am   Re: Shell concern

I'm not sure about that cream (I tried Colloidal Silver before with no effect), but I'm hoping for some positive results!
User avatar
steve
Site Admin
 
Posts: 31430
Joined: Apr 11, 2005
Location: New York, NY
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 10:06 am   Re: Shell concern

After a week or so of daily treatments, it looks like we may be seeing some improvement. Taking a little time though.
Attachments
thumbnail_IMG_1577.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_1574.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_1578.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_1579.jpg
User avatar
Longhorn
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Sep 20, 2020
Location: Fort Bend Co., Texas
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:59 am   Re: Shell concern

Thanks for the update. Does look better, will look great once it's all gone. Even a spec leftover will eventually get all over the shell.
User avatar
steve
Site Admin
 
Posts: 31430
Joined: Apr 11, 2005
Location: New York, NY
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:07 am   Re: Shell concern

Thanks Steve.

We're running a bit low on the cream we've been using and it's a bit hard to obtain. I'm considering switching to Neosporin. Do you (or anyone else) have any experience with it?
User avatar
Longhorn
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Sep 20, 2020
Location: Fort Bend Co., Texas
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 8:25 am   Re: Shell concern

I've used it on small cuts/injuries on turtles, so it is safe to use on them. However, Neosporin is an antibiotic, so it won't do anything to the fungus.
User avatar
steve
Site Admin
 
Posts: 31430
Joined: Apr 11, 2005
Location: New York, NY
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 1:32 pm   Re: Shell concern

The chlorhexidine should take care of the fungus, won't it?
If not, what is your recommendation?

Thanks!
User avatar
Longhorn
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Sep 20, 2020
Location: Fort Bend Co., Texas
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 11:26 am   Re: Shell concern

Chlorhexidine is more of a disinfectant... great for cleaning and preventative care. Silver sulfadiazine has always been the best and safest at treating an active infection. I know there are also examples of other antifungal treatments that have worked too, though I have not tracked or kept up with them.
User avatar
steve
Site Admin
 
Posts: 31430
Joined: Apr 11, 2005
Location: New York, NY
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2021 2:32 pm   Re: Shell concern

We are slowly getting there! I figure another week or two and he should be good to go.
Attachments
thumbnail_IMG_1584.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_1583.jpg
User avatar
Longhorn
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Sep 20, 2020
Location: Fort Bend Co., Texas
Gender: Male

Next

Return to General Care Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests