Hello,
I just wanted a few opinions from other turtle owners about the condition of my RES’s shell and how it may reflect his health.
My main concern is that his shell appears to be pyramiding. It may just be how the shell looks and it’s not a big deal, but I am unsure if it is the beginning of pyramiding. What do you think? I have a few pictures attached.
Should I give him a calcium supplement? Do the pellets not have enough calcium in them? I do not want to overdo it, but i’m not sure if he’s getting enough.
Also, do his red stripes look faded to anyone? They look dull compared to how red they used to be. I have switched him to a greater UVB bulb, as I did not realize his basking platform was further from his lights than I had thought. I have been trying to get him switched over to a mostly veggie diet, but he is very picky and it has been hard to gauge if he is eating much of what I put in his tank.
Some background info:
Age: About 7 years
Aquarium size: Very long tank with not a ton of water vertically (house we moved to won’t support the weight without creating a brace in the basement)
Diet: Has lived mostly off pellets, have been shifting him to veggies in recent years despite his picky behavior
UVB bulb replaced every 6 months
Heat bulb replaced when it goes out
Water temp: Kept consistently at about 78
Filter rock kept clean, filters replaced as needed, aquarium is clean and water is added by about 2 gallons every 6 days or so.
I have gently felt his shell and it does not feel soft in any areas.
He is very energetic, basks regularly, and has no problem gobbling his pellets.
