Should my turtles shell be peeling?
Peeling as part of the growth process is normal as long as the thin layers come off, revealing shell that looks and feels normal. Scutes should generally be intact and whole and not come off in parts. If they don’t, it could be a sign of disease.
What’s wrong with my turtle’s shell?
Turtle shell problems can have many causes, from improper care to a poor diet to accidental injuries. Lack of calcium, a dirty environment, inadequate sunlight and excessive moisture can also cause irregularities in a turtle’s shell.
How do I know if my turtle’s shell is rotting?
Pet turtles tend to have more subtle signs but these can include a red tinge to areas of the shell, slime over the shell, a bad smell, flaking of the scutes and an easily damaged shell.
How do you fix turtle shell rot?
If the shell rot has a foul odor, apply an antibacterial or antibiotic cream (silver sulfadiazine ointment or 2% mupirocin ointment) to the affected area as well. Do this twice a day for a week. Make sure to keep the turtle away from water after swabbing for 30-40 minutes to let the medicine work.
Is it normal for my turtle to “shed” it’s shell?
Most of the time, it’s perfectly normal for turtles to shed their scutes as they grow. A peeling shell can also indicate disease depending on the type of turtle and its health. In addition to shedding scutes, a turtle will shed its skin as well.
Is it normal for turtles to shed their shell?
It’s perfectly normal for water turtles to shed their scutes as they grow. But a peeling shell can also indicate disease, depending on the type of turtle and whether it’s healthy. In addition to shedding scutes, all turtles and tortoises shed the skin on their legs and necks.
What to do if your turtle is shedding?
Fungal infections can cause skin shedding or mimic the appearance of shedding skin. Place the turtle in a mild saline solution. Salt will kill surface fungus, but deeper infections will need further care. Make sure the turtle spends time completely dry. The water should be kept clean.
Do turtles ever outgrow their shells?
A turtle won’t really outgrow it’s shell, but it can get fat enough that it becomes difficult to move around. The biggest danger of overfeeding is that kidney and liver disease can develop. Kidney disease often causes swelling, especially of the back legs. From your description, your turtle probably is getting fat.