Sick turtle...HELPPP!!!!!?

Question

i recently purchased a baby red ear slider, she seems to be shedding an excessive amount of skin (i don't know if it's really skin but there is alot of sludge /slime at the bottom of the tank). i clean her tank every week but it's still there and it's also around her neck!!! she is eating well and is also very active, i don't know what wrong, HELPP!!! any suggestions???

Answer 1

If it is the scutes (scales) from her back that is perfectly normal, because she is probably growing rapidly. If it is actually her skin, I'd guess she needs some time OUT of the water. Make sure she has a place to get completely get out of her water and sunbathe. Good luck, RES make great pets!

Answer 2

Shedding of skin is a sign of being overfed or high ammonia levels in the water. Try feeding it more veggies, commercial turtle pellets contain tons of protein which can lead to turtles becoming obese or growing too fast.

Turtles that grow too fast have problems later down the line with liver function, bone diseases of the shell, and even shell malformation.

Make sure you are using a filter (I like Tetra's in-tank filters, they start out at $12 or so) and a water treatment like Wardley's 3 in 1, it removes Chlorine, Amonia and adjusts the PH of the tank, it's cheaper than buying separate products. Bacteria supplements like Turtle Clean or Exoterra's Biotize (same company, different name) are great because they introduce helpful bacteria that feed on left over food, excrements, and even skin remnants.

Cut back on feeding, maybe once every other day, think of how much a turtle would hunt down in a pond... in comparison to being fed a handful of nutrient-rich pellets everyday.

Red Eared Sliders Hatchlings get sick very easily, make sure it has a heater, and a basking bulb. If a turtle doesn't have UVA/UVB light, it is unable to absorb Calcium and its shell will not grow properly.

Always wash your hands after handling your turtle, they have the same bacteria (Salmonella) that raw chicken has.

Answer 3

The stuff at the bottom of the tank is probably fecal material- turtles produce a LOT of it.

Flaky skin around the neck is common in a growing turtle- but is often a sign it is growing a little too fast- being overfed or under-exercised.

I'm going to guess that you might be over-feeding the turtle. A typical serving size is only as big as their head, and you only fed a baby once a day.

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

Answer 4

I would say you definately need to take it to the vet. I am a turle owner & none of my turtles ever had peeling skin. You say it is around the neck, & stuff at bottom. If it is the shell, that is somewtimes, ok. Shell peeling also could mean a vitamin deficiency--
do you have a UVA/UVB light
--also correct varieties of foods
Food
store pellets, Reptomin
live rosie minnows
water lettuce (nurseries or pet stores
green leafy veggies from fridge, romaine lettuce
cooked meats, chicken, beef, turkey
tadpoles
snails
goldfish too( once in awhile tho, not very nutritious, fatty)

but it probably need an anti fungal bath
go to a pet store, find someone knowlegeable
also a vitamin bath will do good

yes you need a filter & pump & continue w/ clean water

could stuff at bottom be poop? or overfeeding of decaying food?
give only what it eats, not too much to decay

those are my suggestioins

it does need some help, does not seem right to me


oh yeah**** needs water * dry area, likes to bask, get the uva/uvb light also a basking or heat lamp--put big riock out of water under it. it likes to swim , even sit in deep water, but also to be dry, & hide under plants, dig into mulch, dirt, & hide

** 1 inch of turtle, to 10 gallons

Answer 5

acessive sheding is not normal. its nothing to be to alarmed about right now. so feel abit better here is what u should do>
test your amonia lvl if it is high then thats probly the case
another reason could be your basking lite it to close and his skin is getting dry and comming of in the water
if u are over feeding him that can couse exessive skin pealing, and can lead to liver problems in the futer.
if the skin is very clear and thin nothing to panic about just adjust all those things i told u about and u should be good
if the skin is discolerd i would take him to the vet becouse he has an infection

Answer 6

hi i was given two 4month old turtles for xmas and the petshop guy told me that they were shedding there skin hence all this white gunk or sludge as you say, one of them got better and the other got worse, i found out that infact it isn't skin there shedding but its a fungal disease that will start eating their skin away then will start eating at their internal organs and bone, sadly for 1 of my turtles it was to late and his bottom jaw fell off, he was rushed to the vet and had to be put down. take him to your vet asap. its a horrible traumatic experience for your turtle and a devestating way to die......

Answer 7

Do you mean those jelly like things on their skin? My turtles also have them when they were young. After a couple of weeks those disappeared. But, if you doubt about it, go to a vet. They are always helpful...

Answer 8

Take her to the vet maybe try some calcium powder that's what I give my tortoise. I was recently concerned with the fact that my tortoise was shedding just like you.

Answer 9

I had a turtle and his shell pealed but he was fine. I'm sure if she is acting fine then she is ok. If she starts to act sick make sure her temperature on her tank is high enough other then that talk to your vet.

Answer 10

you need a tank filter and some common aquarium fuguscide
maroxy shoudl do it