Why is my turtle's shell soft?

Question

My red ear slider's shell is soft. I don't know why because I bought him from people who had a bunch of them that came from Louisiana. He is a hatchling. I don't ever see him eat, but he could eat when I'm not around. I have a reptile light, an island for him to get out of the water, and one side of his tank built up with aquarium stones so he can get out of the water. I also have one of those cuddle bones but for some reason his shell is really soft. The underneath of his body is soft and his outer shell is soft. I don't know if he is a softshell or what because I didn't pay that much attention to his shell when I first got him. Please let me know what to do because I don't want him to die. Thanks

Answer 1

Sounds like a calium deficiancy. Get some ReptiCal and put it on his food. You should also make sure he's eating. if he doesn't like what you are feeding him, try something different. Turtles are picky and some will starve to death rather than eat something they don't like.

Answer 2

The shell of a small Red-ear slider shold be tough, but with a little give to it. If yours is softer than that, it is something to be concerned about.

Turtles need a LOT of calcium in their diet to form the shell. In order for them to use the calcium right, they need vitamin D3, UVB light, the right levels of phosphorus and magnesium, and other nutrients.

When we see soft shells, we immediately suspect both basic cares and diet.

You don't say the size of the tank, but we'd want to see a big tank, at least 10 gallons of water, to give the turtle room. Good basking sites are vital as well. The water shold be well-filtered and heated to about 75-80F, and the baskgin sites heated to about 90F.

The lighting should include UVB rays- which only happens of the bulb SAYS if offers UVB, and the only ones that do are unfortunately a little expensive (especially since they only give off UVB for about 6 months then need replacement!)

The diet should be a good quality turtle pellet supplemented with things like live worms.

You can learn more about these at either http://www.redearslider.com or http://www.austinsturtlepage.com

Answer 3

that's too quickly to start nerve-racking. infant turtles with hard shells could stay egg-formed. It takes awhile for them to harden up. you may hasten this alongside with appropriate nutrition. stay nutrition is the wonderful. No turtle can face as much as earthwoms, a physically powerful source of calcium. Small fishes (no longer goldfish) and mushy-bodied bugs are eaten comfortably. once you won't have the ability to get stay nutrition, feed it strips of liver dusted with bonemeal to grant the two the nutrition D and the calcium. and turn off the basking easy at evening. Do you get a physically powerful evening's sleep with a vivid easy on over your mattress?

Answer 4

www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/res.html
Here is a website about the care of RES turtles.

By the way it is normal for hatchlings to be soft. He will harden up as the days go by.

Answer 5

when a turtle is young their shells are a Little bit soft. as they get older their shells harden. They need a light bulb with UV A and UV B light, and a variety food to help their shell grow strong.

Answer 6

You have to give it calcium because you lack feeding him calcium. Red ear sliders are not supposed to be soft shelled, feed; live or dead fish, grasshoppers, and worms. U could ask your vet too.

Answer 7

to much turtlewax.i would cut down to maybe weekly polishings,if its still soft let him bask outside under the sun for a few hours ,just remember to flip half way through.

Answer 8

his shell might just might be developing my turtles shell got soft then hardened and it was just that it was growing. or it could be shell rot. You can call your vet or add a calcium suppliment to his food if your worried.

Answer 9

Bring him to a vet if you want to save him

Answer 10

Hopefully this website can give you some info for your turtle:

http://www.allturtles.com/care_sheets/first_aid.php

Hope it gets better!