We have 2 small turtles and their shells were hard & now one of them is soft? Why? Is it going to die?

Answer 1

You may have a soft shell turtle but if you do not I am providing a link that has some very good information on calcium and vitamin D3.. turtles needs these things in order to keep a healthy turtle and shell.

A good way to get D3 is by natural sunlight for the time being till you decide what to do allow the turtle to get as much sun as you can but provide a water bowl you do not want them to get to hot. Also, I would find a good vet who knows about turtles and just to be safe make an app.

Good luck and let us know how things go if you like.

Answer 2

If the shell looks normal, but flexes when squeezed (and did not before), then it is 'soft shell'. If the shell looks odd- raggedy, discolored, flaking, etc., then it might be 'shell rot'.

Soft shell is usually the result of a problem in calcium metabolism. Turtles need a LOT of calcium, but the way they use it is rather complex.

It needs to be in the right ratio with phosphorus, for example. The ideal Ca:P ratio is 2:1 to 3:1, but many of the foods given to turtles runs more like 1:15.Too much phosphorus makes bones soft.

The body needs D3 to help use calcium correctly. Vitamin D3 can be made in the skin if the skin is exposed to UVB rays of the sun (UVA and UVC are useful in other ways, but only UVB helps with D3). D3 is also in red meat, etc.- but turtles should not eat red meat, so that does not help.

The turtle also needs a good mix of vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, for good bone development.

Just to make it even more fun, stress messes up calcium use, in turtles and humans. Small tanks, dirty water, cool temps, bad lighting, etc. can all contribute to health problems like this.

What you need to do is to carefully review the cares of your turtles- housing, temps, lighting, heating, etc.- but mostly diet.

Two good sites for this are http://www.austinsturtlepage.com and http://www.redearslider.com

Answer 3

A malnutritious diet lacking in calcium can be a major factor in your turtle having a soft shell. UVB rays are necessary for turtles to synthesise calcium into vitamin D3 which ensures a firm shell for them.

If your turtle has a soft shell and is otherwise healthy, you must
provide him with enough calcium and a way to synthesize Vitamin D3.
(Refer to the care sheet on feeding turtles for more information.)

Answer 4

I see the humorous solutions are taken, so hear you bypass: final sentence: "additionally, whilst the turtle can get thoroughly out of the water and dry off, it facilitates the shell to harden." Q: what style of kit to i ought to make my turtle comfortable? A: first element you should look into is a robust filter out. Turtles stink, any proprietor of turtles will inform you that. the excellent thank you to maintain the smell down is to have an smart filter out. maximum filters are designed for fish tanks, great, yet turtles choose better than that. (See question 5 for extra info) NO GRAVEL interior the TANK! Gravel on the backside is the place a great style of the smells will come from. Uneaten nutrition and waste gets into the gravel and fester there. in case you have a clean glass backside, the filter out will do away with any element like that and the turtles would be unable to eat the gravel. if your turtle eats gravel, they might't digest it and you will have issues. next, in case you could no longer save the tank at approximately 72F (22-23C), seem right into a heater. right this is the place fish and turtles choose the comparable element. Get a heater this is meant to your tank length. additionally on the subject be counted of temperature, get the little men a basking lamp and a extreme-high quality rock or ledge on which to apply it. Turtles get their physique warmth from their environment as they are chilly blooded. Giving them a extreme-high quality heat basking lamp and rock on which to sit down down is a good element. additionally, whilst the turtle can get thoroughly out of the water and dry off, it facilitates the shell to harden.

Answer 5

It's shell rot, he isn't getting enough calcium and vitamin D3 take it to the vet remember to enrich your food with a powder supplement and make sure he gets outside if weather permits to get some D3 and make sure your florescent light is at least 2.0 UV.

Answer 6

Possible that you have a soft back or leatherback turtle, they have hard shells when they are young which soften as they get older

Answer 7

It had a shell disease and needs to be taken to the vet immediately. It could die if left untreated.