peeling shells and other problems

**Jade** · #1 04-09-2005, 06:57 PM

i picked up what lookls like a box turtle and a red-eared slider from my bosses sister that didnt want them anymore.
the most prominent problems is that peices are peeling off there shells
anyone know what cuases this so I can fix it.
im assume they both have calcium deficencys they had no heat the red ear just had a flouresent light. the box turtle is supsode to be nine but his tiny, im going to set them up outside soon and start them with calcium in their food
i need to get my pisters up to give you a good idea of how they look but my camera isnt co-opperating
also forgive my spelling im typing in a rush

**furryscaly** · #2 04-09-2005, 07:36 PM

Are you sure their shells are damaged? Turtles do shed the scutes on their shells, just like scales. They should peel off in individual pieces, but sometimes they get stuck and each one flakes off in little pieces. The scutes will basically just start to lift off from the shell and literally peel away. If you can get a grip on one you can actually peel it off and there will be a fresh, clean scute underneath.

Here's a turtle thats shedding:
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/...dingScutes.jpg

and here are the scutes after they come off:
http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Turtle55.jpg

**Jade** · #3 04-09-2005, 10:25 PM

phew is that all it is? thats what it sound like one peice at a time has been coming off the red ear and the box is peeling a little. well now that thats solved I think they'll be fine with the proper setup and food.
is it bad for a turtle to have its nails cut? the red ear looks like most of its nails were trimmed down with the exception of 4 on one foot
the box looks like he's had a hard life but I think he'll do ok I just need to encourage him to eat, the sliders eating pellets, but he the box was given carrots and appleslices before I got him, i left a collard leaf and a peice of ecto-them iguana yummy in for him to try
any good caresheets would also be helpful want everything to be just right for them

**furryscaly** · #4 04-09-2005, 10:44 PM

Unless you see bone under the scutes, they're just shedding

Its possible that their nails were trimmed, but I wouldn't do that to a turtle. Male RES naturally have really long claws. If you've got pics of the head and cloaca of your RES I can probably tell you its sex.

**Jade** · #5 04-09-2005, 11:02 PM

i asumed the red ear was female becuase it has a small tail and the bootom of it shell is sort of rounded, thats how I though you could tell but I dont know a whole lot about turtles. the claws that were left untrimmed arnt really long like a males.
and I remembered the box does appear to have the spot of the shall above the head cracked and his hinge doesnt seem to work.
i hope my camera will decide to co-operate soon I want to get the pictures of the box up he was with his previous owners for 9 years and he looks to be around 3-4 inches long

**furryscaly** · #6 04-09-2005, 11:16 PM

Hmm, i thnk in one species of box turtle one sex has red eyes and the other doesn't. As for the RES, yeah, if the plastron is concave and the cloaca is close to the body, she's a female. Females also have a much thicker red band than the males, and its often a deeper red. The front claws are the only ones that are exceptionally long in the males.

**KrokadilyanGuy3** · #7 04-10-2005, 02:15 PM

Terrapene do not shed as most other chelonians do - Not sure about Cuora.

If your turtle is in fact a box turtle and is somehow sloughing it's scutes then I would double check it's humidity; Calcium Deficiency can also be a culprit, however, is there any other abnormal signs to the shell: Spots, blotches, soft and flexible or discoloring? Any abnormal bumps, holes or notches?

Basically, shedding in box turtles is not something they do and should be checked by a vet, which basically goes for anything new you obtain. It'll give you a head start on any problems there may actually be. Also, most turtles pellets should be fed as a filler, give the slider some real food.

Good luck,
Zane

**BlackJack** · #8 04-10-2005, 03:08 PM

Wow, furryscaly!! I've never seen pics of a turtle shedding before.
If I saw something like that on a turtle (before I read this thread) I would've totally freaked out.

Good luck with the turtles Jade. I hope you get your camera working!

**Jade** · #9 04-10-2005, 03:30 PM

well in his last home I dont think the box had heat.uvb,or water they just gave me an empty tank and abaggy of chopped up apples and carrots, he has a spot of the shell above his head that looks like it split or broke waway at one point, and they shell looks a little lopsided but its not soft and doesnt have any sores, several of teh hearps will be going to the vet soon for checkups since its warm outside so i'll take him along aswell . he ate some collard greens yesterday and I gave him a 60 watt light for a little heat , shallow water bowl and im going to take him outside everday till I can get him a uvb fixture, i want to house them outside but im afraid they'll escape or that something will eat the box, for now im going to get a pair of kiddie pools and set them up for supervised sessions outside
beside her beek having a gap betwwen the top and bottom the red ear seems to be ok right now she's in a 30 gallon that they gave to me with her but I have a 4ft tank im going to set up for her and eventually an outdoor pond for the summers

**furryscaly** · #10 04-10-2005, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrokadilyanGuy3

[font=Times New Roman]Terrapene do not shed as most other chelonians do - Not sure about Cuora.
If your turtle is in fact a box turtle and is somehow sloughing it's scutes then I would double check it's humidity; Calcium Deficiency can also be a culprit, however, is there any other abnormal signs to the shell: Spots, blotches, soft and flexible or discoloring? Any abnormal bumps, holes or notches?
Basically, shedding in box turtles is not something they do and should be checked by a vet, which basically goes for anything new you obtain.FONT]

Cool, I didn't know all that. Box turtles aren't really my thing lol.

Jade, what do you mean your turtle's beak has a gap? You're not talking about his upper jaw are you? Where it looks like he has little fangs? Of that's what you mean, that's normal for a RES. It has a name, but I can't remember it.


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