More Shell Problems

[MizMAzz]

I think I know what people are going to say, just from reading the answers to previous questions, but I figured I'd go ahead and post some pics of my RES's shell and set up as well.

I recently changed Moskow's tank setup because the one he had just didn't seem right. I was told by the person who gave him to me to keep the water very low and make sure he had a rock to hang out on. I'm embarrassed to say how long I kept him like that, feeling in my gut that he needed more.

so now he's in a 20 Long tank, with the water at about 2/3 (he LOVES to swim. I can't believe how animated he has become since the change). he has a powerful filter (good for 40-50 gallons of water), a dock and a basking lamp above the dock. I have plans to get him UV lights as well and perhaps a water heater because it can get kinda cool in my apartment.

he's been shedding his scutes at an alarming rate, though. it's been like this for a while. I figured the change in husbandry might make a difference. and it has somewhat. but the shell itself doesn't seem to be getting better. thankfully it's not coming off in chunks and I haven't detected any soft spots. it just looks super dry and flaky and has completely lost its luster. you'll see white spots in the photos - they are not fuzzy like I've heard other people talk about. they look like bubbles between the layers of scute. still, I'm thinking it's either bacterial or fungal, right?

any advice you can give me would be MUCH appreciated. I really want to do right by him. he's got such an awesome personality and has been really patient with me!

anyway, here are the pics. what do you suggest?

thanks so much!

[Winter]

Redearslider.com :: Shell Conditions

I can't find anything that fits the description.. maybe you can.

Make sure you get all the proper lighting for your turtle. What does it's diet consist of?

To help it shed I suggest you buy a big coral like rock to place inside the water of the tank. I have that in my RES tank setup and my turtles rub their backs against it all the time to promote their shell shedding, growth, and overall health.

How many inches is your turtle? Rule of thumb is 10 gallons of water for each inch of shell. It is safe to fill up the water in ur tank all the way up. The only time we put it half way or low is for baby RES and your turtle is not a baby ;P

With the right diet and lighting I think your turtle's health will improve.. Maybe someone else here will have better advice for you.

[MizMAzz]

hey Winter, thanks for the response!

Moskow's shell is about 6 inches, front to back. I think he's a bit small for his age. I know he's over 15 years old because I've had him for about that long and he was not a baby when I got him. so with your rule of thumb regarding 10 gallons of water for each inch of shell, I guess I'm under by about 30+ gallons of water! If I fill the tank all the way up, though, he won't have any room to bask. and he needs to bask, no?

as for food, I have solely been feeding him the ReptoMin pellets for the past 14 years - I knew that they *like* other things but I didn't know until recently that it's better for them to have a varied diet. for the first year I gave him lots of dried shrimp but I remember reading somewhere that it wasn't that good an idea to keep feeding him that as an adult so I stopped and only continued with the pellets.

but in any case I've started feeding him bits of apple and carrot - mainly because that is what I've had in the house. but I know they also like banana and leafy things (lettuce) so I'm planning to introduce that into the diet as well. I'll also keep giving him pellets but not as often.

as for the rest: yes. I will get him a UVB light asap as well as some kind of rock to rub against. maybe it's just a matter of getting him back into balance...

if anybody else has any thoughts about this, PLEASE feel free to share.

and thanks again, Winter, for your thoughts...

peace
Mazz

[Winter]

Here is a picture of my basking set up. As you can see, the water is filled up to the top. I have a very generic basking log attached to the aquarium and the lights set up. My 3 turtles all find a way to squeeze up in there and bask. You don't have to worry about the light being too close to them either. As long as you have a good amount of water that fits the size of your turtle they it should be able to regulate it's body temperature.


With that sad, I forgot to mention that a submersible water heater isn't necessary if you have both UVA and UVB lighting. It's important you have both. One is used for basking and the other substitutes the sun by providing some form of vitamin D. I'm not sure how it works but this is what it's suppose to be xD

Your turtles will need vitamin d to help them maintain calcium levels and promote shell health. For what you've told me about your turtle's diet, she needs a lot more calcium. Yes RES turtles should take more calcium the younger they are but for your case your turtle's growth is stunted. Most RES mature into adults in 2-3 years and that's about 4-5 inches. RES can grow up to 12" long if not longer.. so it would explain the mass shedding. It's trying to grow into it's right size perhaps.

I think it's very essential you get a tool (rock) to help your turtle in shedding it's scutes. Maybe after a really good shedding it's shell will start to look lumicent, hydrated, and not so much dry or flaky.

If you're going to give your turtle fruits make sure it's only about once a month. They don't need that much of it :) Leafy vegetables are good to leave in the tank daily. They aren't difficult to pick up either so they won't ruin the water quality of your tank or anything. Try different vegetables all together. Stay away from ice berg lettuce and gold fish. Most gold fish carry disease. They are also very fatty and they carry a vitamin RES lack the enzyme to break down. Variety of feeder fish is good.


Some foods that are high in calcium are shrimp, krill, worms (most worms! If you can get them live the better), etc. Most pet stores sell a calcium bone type thing specially made for turtles :)

Remember that diet and lighting go hand in hand in promoting and maintaining shell health ^_^

[MizMAzz]

wow, this has been very enlightening and helpful. thanks so much for explaining...

I'm on my way to the store now!

:)

cheers

(and happy holidays, if you go in for that sort of thing! ;)

[Winter]

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year ^_^