I recently took in an RES that was found in an abandoned house (the former residents just left one day and left behind everything). The turtle is in good shape, although it hadn't been fed in days, maybe weeks. Anyway, I found a bottle of "Skin & Shell Treatment" in the house, so I studied the turtle and found what looks like shell rot on her plastron (bottom shell). There are two small rusty brown spots with a rough texture. Could this be shell rot? And if it is, how should I treat it?
2006-12-04 04:10:57 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
This is from the following site: http://www.anapsid.org/shellrot.html
The infected area should be swabbed with a dilute povidone-iodine solution. The areas of infection can then be gently scraped away using a blunt edge such as a disinfected table knife. The scraped areas are then swabbed with povidone-iodine solution or ointment.
First try a topical antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin. Dab a bit on the infected area and keep the turtle out of the water for at least 10 minutes to give the medication time to penetrate. If there is no observable improvement within a couple of days, try an antifungal cream.
If there is no improvement after a couple of days, take it to your reptile vet. These infections are not something to mess around with for very long at home, given the potentially lethal nature of systemic infections.
PLEASE NOTE: If your turtle seems to have only small areas of mild shell rot, but is lethargic, not eating, has puffy eyes or any other signs of illness along with the minor shell lesions, there is probably widespread infection of some unknown nature, and this should be treated by a veterinarian.
2006-12-04 04:15:59 · answer #1 · answered by Lexi P 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would check out the above mentioned site, as well as do a search for "red eared slider care," There's a TON of information out there about them...
As for the shell, shell rot generally causes spots on the shell to be soft to the touch. It could be that the rough spots are areas that have healed over... I would continue to use the treatment just in case, and you can also find dissolveable medicated/calcium/sulfa blocks at a pet store, which would probably be a good idea. Make sure the water stays clean (get a better filter or do more frequent water changes). Other than that just keep an eye on the spots and make sure they don't get any worse.
2006-12-04 12:58:45 · answer #2 · answered by snake_girl85 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adding tanic acid (like from a standard tea bag) might be beneficial as well and certainly would do no harm in any case.
2006-12-04 20:06:12 · answer #3 · answered by fmocherokee0 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
www.redearslider.com
2006-12-04 22:49:23 · answer #4 · answered by kami 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
great answer!!
2006-12-04 12:55:33 · answer #5 · answered by kristinad21 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋