ok my turtle's shell is peeling,,,,,?

Question

I got this off a site...

As an immediate measure, remove the turtle from the water except for a 30 minute bath twice a day;

does this go for an aquatic turtle, such as a red eared slider? I thought they HAD to have water to be in at all times. Can I take her out and only offer a very small amount of water, and have her be ok? and for how long should I make her stay out of the water?

Answer 1

This is normal. If the shedding are scales and slightly trandparent then this means she is normally growing.

Answer 2

If the peeling is because of shell rot, the dry tank method will help.

First- IS it shell rot? If the peels are like paper-thin fingernails, and the tissue underneath looks like regular scales, then it is just normal shedding.

If the peelings are thicker, or the shell underneath is discolored, smells, is soft, etc., then it may be shell rot.

There are several cares for shell rot. My favorite is:

1. Create a dry tank with good temps (80'ish), lighting with UV-B rays, shelter areas (I have even used an old towel for it to 'burrow' into), and a water dish it cannot tip over.

2. Rinse the turtle off and gently scrub off any growths you can remove. I wet the shell, sprinkle it with salt, and use an old washcloth to try to scour off stuff. Don't hurt or stress the turtle by trying to get every last bit, but the more you get the better.

3. Dab the affected areas with Betadine or even a very dilute bleach and water solution to kill any mold, fungus, or germs. Put the turtle in the dry tank for about 20 hours a day.

4. Clean the old tank out totally. Disinfect everything and rebuild it right- right size, right temps, good basking, etc. Often, rot is caused by a problem in our habitats or daily cares.

5. For a few hours a day, let the turtle swim, eat, defecate, etc. At the end of the time, re-rinse, re-scrub, and re-treat and return it to the dry tank and change as much of the water in the wet tank as you can.

6. Repeat this for at least a week, then check on your progress. If the rot seems to be getting better, great. If it is getting worse, see a vet or turtle expert.

7. If it IS getting better, keep this up for at least another week until the rot is gone and real healing is happening. After 2-3 weeks, begin to increase the wet time as long as the rot stays away. It generally takes a month to see good healing.

Answer 3

Turtle do NOT shed thier skin you are thinking of snakes and lizards!!

Red earred sliders are not aquatic, least not like sea turtles. they need dry land too. They need to be able to get out fo the water when they want to.

Give your turtle a way to get out of the water.

Are you dechlorinating the water?

Are you cleaning the water often enough? EVery day or two!

If I were you I would get my turtle to a vet NOW! Turtles don't peel! I bet you have a very sick turtle!

Here are a couple sites for info. Slider info: http://www.tortoise.org/archives/elegans.html
http://www.geocities.com/angiemcg2000/turtles.html

Answer 4

as they advance segments of shell peel off like a thumbnail length piece. be useful turtle has area to get out of water so it could bask in the warmth and save it quite is shell no longer ordinary. in any different case on occasion a severe undertaking of shell rot can ensue. get a e book on the community puppy keep and examine up some on your turtle.

Answer 5

Shedding is normal, but no, red ear sliders are not fully aquatic so they do not need to be in the water all the time. They need to come out to bask, where they can completly dry off. They need special lights over the basking spot too. They need a basking lamp (you can use a regular household bulb) and they need a UVA/UVB light of at least 5%. For more information, please come visit me at http://www.turtleexchange.com/forum/index.php

Answer 6

It could be fungus, or a metabolic problem due to her diet, take her to the vet.

They need dry land to bask on and rest.

Don't make her stay out of the water because you don't know what is wrong. Turtle's shells don't peel normally...

Answer 7

Good grief...what's all this about shell rot?
Your turtle is fine. They periodically shed the scales off the shell as they grow. Just don't try to pick off half shed scales...it hurts them.

Answer 8

Hon, try taking your turtle to a specialist. He/she probably has shell rot.

Answer 9

he's a reptille they d that and plus hes growing and getting older

Answer 10

He gettin' bigger he shedding remember he a reptile *all reptiles shed*