View Full Version : shell rot
twistedsnap
06-26-2009, 4:41 AM
my paint turtle is showing sighns of shell rot. I had a book that had a section on the problem and curing it but i lost the book in the move, and help will be appreciated.
evilxyardxgnome
06-26-2009, 5:40 AM
Do you give them anywhere for them to bask?
mygsris2slo4u
06-26-2009, 5:52 AM
Do you have a UV bulb for it containing both A and B spectrums?
twistedsnap
06-26-2009, 12:36 PM
yes and yes. the light stays on all day he spends a lot of time on the platform. it has something to do with calcium to doesnt it. i have tried to get them to use to turtle bones bit they dont seem to do much with them a little nibble here and there
evilxyardxgnome
06-26-2009, 1:28 PM
Get those dissolving calcium cones from Petco. They will help raise the calcium level.
twistedsnap
06-26-2009, 1:29 PM
ok thank you
Sorry but that will do absolutley nothing, shell rot is caused by pathogens not lack of calcium. The fact that it has a basking platform is good as it will prevent it from spreading. Is it the rot localized or spreaded in the shell? You will have to increase the hygene by doing allmost daily water changes and the actual wounds have to be cleaned of the putrid material and desionfected with betadine. A vet trip would be of great help
twistedsnap
06-27-2009, 10:56 AM
it has spread a little since i found him. but just kinda grows as he grows. i will do some calling around and see if i can get a vet around here to look at him, the daily water changes wont be a possibility except on weekends i work out of town during the week and my girl friend feed the fish and turtles.
twistedsnap
06-27-2009, 10:58 AM
i will have to find some more info on shell rot cuz there is no putrid material to speak of just kinda discolored let me see if i can get a pic up today
twistedsnap
06-27-2009, 11:13 AM
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News for you and these are good ones:D That aint shell rot, its either a calcium deposit or a erosion of the shell queratine plates(can also be both because the erosion of the shell creates a rough surface were calcium ions can congregate), both are quite comon and they "grow" with the turtle as you descrive. Its something completly benign and you have to do nothing about it, its a bit of a beauty prob only really, and this or next year when your turt sheds its shell plates it will disapear for ever. Shell rot its completly diferent;)
twistedsnap
06-28-2009, 9:14 AM
that is good news. when the post earlier said putrid it kinda throwed me. glad i posted the pics. thanksa again.
that is good news. when the post earlier said putrid it kinda throwed me. glad i posted the pics. thanksa again.
Its true, shell rot looks like big open sores in the shell with mozarella chesse like pus inside it:WHOA:
cobra blitz
06-28-2009, 8:44 PM
I agree with Coura, just looks to be mineral deposits. Just means you have hard water. Turtle is fine.
twistedsnap
06-28-2009, 9:46 PM
wow that sounds gross as all hell.thanks again for the help