Turtle shell discoloration?

Question

My water turtle has what looks like algae growing on his shell. Everything else is normal . What could cause this, is it harmful and do I need to worry? I keep him clean

Answer 1

You need to take your turtle to a vet as he most likely has soft shell syndrome which is caused most commonly by nutrition or light deficiencies.

Answer 2

Turtle Shell Discoloration

Answer 3

Algae on your turtle
If algae grow in your rocks and tank decorations, unless they disturb your sense of beauty, you can let them grow. An exception is the long, hairy kind which also makes the water slimy. Those, you should remove. Algae grow in healthy water with enough light. They are a sign that you are doing something right. Do not use chemicals to kill algae!!! If you don't like the algae, brush them off every time you change the water, change the water more often, use a stronger filter, and add a little salt to the water (see further up). In the wild, it is normal for turtles to grow algae on their shells. It helps them camouflage! In captivity, the algae should be removed every once in a while, since they can encourage growth of fungus in a confined environment.
Treatment
To remove the algae, hold your turtle under warm tap water and gently brush it with a soft vegetable brush.

Answer 4

If it's algae, then it's fine to just scrub it off with a soft-bristle tooth brush. Just wet it with some water and gently scrub it off. Having some algae doesn't hurt the turtle. Your tank is probably just a little dirty and sitting by a window and getting sunlight.

But- if it is not algae, then most likely it's the beginning of shell rot. To tell if it is shell rot, dry off your turtle and hold your turtle to your nose where the "algae" is. If it smells really bad, then it's shell rot. A turtle can get shell rot by lack of a basking area where it can dry off everyday underneath a heat/light source with essential UVA/UVB rays. Unfortunately, you will need to go see a vet to get medication to treat the shell rot.

Answer 5

If the shell is firm, and the algae is not damaging the shell (scrub a little off, look for pitting, etc.) then the algae can stay. it is often a sign that lighting, temps, and water quality are good.

Gentle scrubbing with a little salt and clean water should get rid of it.

Answer 6

It may be getting ready to shed. Aquatic turtles regularly shed the outer layer of their shells. The layer of old shell comes off as the turtle grows. If your turtle is otherwise healthy I wouldn't worry about it. Oh, step up your water changes to once weekly. Turtles are messy!