Turtle Question

Before the board was moved I posted that we got one of our children a couple of Red Eared Slider hatchlings that she named Broccoli and Sweet Potato.

Well, I have a question about them and I hope someone can shead some light on this. The carapace on both turtles is turning white. This just started in the last three days.

I looked at pictures of shell rot and it doesn't look like that and it isn't raised or anything like shell rot but I am washing them with Betadine anyway, but not scraping anything since I don't know what is going on.

Otherwise they are acting normal (for them). Very active, the eat like horses (Broccoli will even beg for food).

Diet consists of turtle pellets (just started coating them in reptical), turtle treat (krill, they won't eat the flys in it) a couple times a day, and fresh veggies (they like broccoli and kale, so far those are the only two veggies we have been able to get them to eat). As I said, they are hatchlings so most food is just to big for them to eat yet.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Ravnos]

White stuff on the shell is usually some kind of fungal infection - I've had it on the cork floats in my turtle tanks before, but not on my turtles. I would imagine you could fix it by allowing them to dry off some and get plenty of basking time... but stilll, you need to figure out what in their tank is causing the fungus and clean it up. If it gets worse, or turns to peeling, or sores you should probably see a vet.

Rav

They have a basking area in the tank but Sweet Potato doesn't use it much.

We have had the turltes for two months and have done nothing different. The tank gets cleaned every two to three days (I really need to get the air pump where I can get the filter hooked up where I don't have to clean them so much), I can't be 10)% sure on the temp, it reads about 90 right now but the way the tank is the lamp is right on the thermometer so it can't be accurate (however, I have noticed that the turtles perfer the warmer water right after the tank is cleaned)

I have no idea what is causing this. Nothing has changed in their enviroment (except I am giving them less krill, it was making the water really horrible so there is less crap in the tank).

I am totaly baffled here. Unfortunatly I don't know much about turtles and I am learning as I go where I can teach my daughter to take care of them (they are her turtles afterall).

Thanks for replying.

[Ravnos]

When in doubt, you can always go to http://www.google.com and type in the species of turtle and then the word 'care' after it. That will almost always bring up a few good pages on what you need to know. You could also try something like 'white on turtle shell' etc etc. Google is a very useful tool when researching pets.

Rav

LOL!
I tried that search idea you gave and got links on the following stuff:

Jewellery
Art projects
Sports Bras.

Just found that funny. Now I have to wonder what sports bras and turltes have in common. I seriously doubt that they come in turtle size or that a turlte would need one.

I thought one of two things were going on, the shells were getting soft or some sort of fungus. Since I washed them with Betadine last night they do look a little greener. I don't know if this means anything but the white patches (I guess you could call them patches) follows the shell patterns. Does that make sense? The other thing that I noticed when looking at them just now is that the pattern on Sweet Potatoes shell is a lot more predominate than what it was before (his shell was rather plain and boring) now it is hard to tell him from Broccoli.

On the off chance, could this be a sign of growth?

[Ravnos]

As turtles grow, their shells will shed thin pieces that get a somewhat milky-white color before falling off - but at their size, I find it unlikely that its that.

Rav

On reading your postings and replies, I have a few comments and questions to mention.

1. I have never trusted "turtle pellets" to provide a balanced diet. Turtles need natural food diets which provide high fibre, some protein, CALCIUM!!! and substantial doses of vitamins A & D. The fibre should be given by leafy green vegetable matter (other than lettuce which has almost no nutritional value or spinach which is high in oxalic acid that retards shell growth). Watercress is good and will provide the calcium. Vitamin A & D should be given as supplements and D will be made by exposure to natural sunlight or UVB light. Soft shells indicate insufficient calcium and vitamin D. As omnivores, animal matter such as earthworms, diced red meat and fish are important should make up a large part of their daily diet to provide protein.

2. You clean their tank water every 2 - 3 days but don't mention the tank size. Baby sliders should be kept in a minimum of 5 - 10 gallon tanks with at least 3 - 6 inches deep of water. If properly cared for, they will grow quickly and soon need a 20 gallon tank with 8 - 12 deep water. The 90 degree water temperature is probably much too high and causing stress. Try keeping it between 70 and 80 degrees.

3. Basking areas to dry off and absorb IR and UV light are critical. In nature, sliders spend most of the daylight hours basking on warm dry rocks in bright sunlight. The closer you can come to replicating that environment, the healthier they will be.

4. Betadine - They should never be allowed to swallow even a few drops of the medication. If you must use it to control fungus, carefully hold them to prevent their mouth from coming in contact with the solution and rinse them thoroughly when finished treatment. With proper basking in warm high UV light on dry areas, fungus should never be a problem however.

With proper light, diet and environment, your pets should thrive and live for many years growing to their full 6 - 10 inch sizes.

Good luck and Godspeed.