I have a Red Eared Slider and its got cotton like stuff under its neck. What is it?

Question

I've tried soaking it in a salt solution, and it helped a little but sometimes it looks better than other times so I'm not sure its actually helping. I want to know if its a fungus that I need treatment for or if it will just go away. Its been around for a few weeks now

Answer 1

Certainly sounds like a fungal infection. If you type in 'fungal infection red ear slider', you'll pull up several websites that talk about the 'cotton' appearance. One site stated the following:

FUNGUS/FUNGAL INFECTIONS are really easy to spot on a turtle.You'll see of what it looks like a light layer of cotton on your slider's shell.Its mostly common in young aquatic turtles.Although it may look alarming ,it can usually be treated with full expectation of recovery unless of course it has been left to spread all around the body.If this has been left to spread,PLEASE contact the vet soon as possible!
It is very easy to CURE this problem.Put your turtle in warm salt water each day for about half an hour.Also give your turtle a bath in the same solution.Just get a soft sponge and gently scrub the infected regions .As long as the problem is not severe ,you should notice recovery within a day or 2.Full recovery takes 10 days or even 2 weeks.

*Please note that it said you must treat on a DAILY basis.

Others suggested that a lack of basking or bad filtration could be causing the problem. When in doubt, contact a veterinarian - preferably one who is familiar/works with exotics/reptiles. You can also do a search to find a vet in your area who has experience with turtles. Good luck!

Answer 2

Think of this, leave a dead fish to float in a tank and it devolops a white slime. I had a couple of red ear sliders in a 55 gal tank. They, too, had a filmy cottony substance. I used a dry cotton swab to remove it. I think not having enough dry land area for them to bask causes this. I reduced the water level, put more rocks in along with a small heat lamp. Never had the problem again. I bought them when they were about the size of a half dollar and gave them away when they were about the size of a cereal bowl.

Answer 3

I had a spiny softshell turtle with a shell fungus when I got him. The reptile vet I took him to said to use povidone iodine. Get a plastic container (shoe box, dishpan) big enough for the turtle, put in water and enough of the iodine to make the water "tea-colored". The turtle needs to soak in this about 15-20 minutes every other day. (Yeah, right - they just want to climb out!)

You can try the salt suggestion first (it's cheaper and you already have it at home). The iodine is more expensive (it was about $11).

Good luck!

Answer 4

Under the neck or in the mouth? This makes a HUGE difference.

Try asking the folk here for fast, accurate answers- http://www.turtleforum.com/forum/upload/index.php?showforum=84

Or look the the Medical Care section at http://www.austinsturtlepage.com

Answer 5

no worries....it's most likely getting rid of unwanted skin. occasionally my six turtles do that. very rare occurrence but it does happen.