Hi, yesterday, I introduced y'all to Sasha. But today, when I was looking at her photos, I noted a change in her shell from an older photo to a more recent photo. Now I'm freaking out. I posted the following information on a turtle forum...so please forgive the repeat of some information.

I have a gulf coast box turtle named Sasha (I've had her for about 13-14 years - not sure how old she was when I adopted her - but she's stayed about the same size the entire time I've had her). I can tell you that when I got her, I had to rush her to the vest the very next day because she had some sort of virus. The vet said that if she'd remain untreated for another day or two, she'd have been dead.

Anyway, as I was looking for a picture to use as my avatar, I came across a photo of her that I took a few years ago and compared it to a recent photo of her swimming in her water dish hunting for goldfish.

There seems to be a problem with her shell. Now, here's what is really troubling me. I would consider that the shell problem might be from a lack of proper lighting, but, due to misinformation from pet store people, I hadn't realized the difference in regular lighting vs. full spectrum lighting. So for the past year, finally, she has had proper full spectrum lighting. She eats crickets and goldfish. I've tried to give her veggies and/or box turtle food from a can. Unless it moves, she turns it down (although, occasionally, she'll take one bite of a strawberry).

She's very active and alert. She is very friendly and interactive with anything that happens around her enclosure. She seems to enjoy hunting and catching her crickets and her fish. I have cuttle bones in with her that she really enjoys chewing on (usually in the middle of the night when I'm watching a scary movie - and all I hear is scrunch scrunch scrunch......she has a warped sense of humor). She's not afraid of anything (which means I have to be extra careful when she is out, because she doesn't hide from cats or other critters).

But the shell thing now has me freaking out. I'm going to try to attach the two photos. The first one will be from a few years ago, and the second (with her in water with fish) is the more recent.

Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I love this little girl and am trying to do the best I can for her.

Does it look like anything is growing? Could be a fungus if it is. Its hard to tell from the older photo but it doesnt look to much different. Maybe its the angle. Sometimes if there is shell damage from before I'm not sure if it heals or can be reversed. If you feel it is getting worse, you may want to make a vet visit.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

i see, the top of the shell is getting flaky and dry. I'm not a turtle person. Someone will chime in.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

That's what I noticed too. I don't see any kind of fungus growing. I'm wondering if the better lighting might be slowing flaking off a layer of old dry shell? Hoping.....praying.....that it is something as simple as that. I haven't noticed it getting worse....in fact, until I compared the old photo to the new photo, I hadn't noticed any problem at all. She's definitely not acting sick.

In fact, the cutest thing is when I bring her new fish to eat, I'll put them in a clear plastic pitcher with water while I clean out her water dish/swimming hole. I put the pitcher in her tank so that the cats can't go fishing. She'll stand up on her hind legs and put her front feet against the plastic.....sort of like a kid looking into a candy store window. I'm trying to find a way to get a good picture of it......it's adorable.

Now I'm wondering if it could be something as simple as her environment is too dry....I switched from using the wood chips (chunks, really) to reptile carpet. I made the switch because I kept finding these tiny little bugs on her dish and stuff. I was told that they come from the wood chips. But maybe I'll have to find a happy medium between wood chips with little bugs and dry carpeting.

You mentioned a full spectrum bulb. What brand are you using?
There is a big difference between a full spectrum bulb and a UVB generating bulb, which is what the turtle needs. Being labeled "full spectrum" only refers to the color of the visible light emitted.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Oops, my bad. What I meant (but failed) to say was that, previously, I had been using what was called "full spectrum". But after receiving very kind advice at a pet expo, I switched her to a UVB bulb (I can't recall the brand at the moment - but I bought it at PetSmart if that helps?).

It would be better to know the actual bulb.
Not all UVB bulbs are equal.
Is it a flourescent tube, a spiral compacttube, or a screw-in incandescent bulb?
The brand should be on the bulb.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

When I get home tonight, I'll find out the brand of bulb.

I'm also on a turtle forum, and it's been suggested that I should probably change Sasha's substrate to something to retain a bit more humidity.

And that I should change her diet a bit (cut back on the fish, feed more bugs and try to convince her to eat some veggies).

I really appreciate how kind and helpful everyone is being. Sasha is such a sweet little girl, I want to make sure I have her for another 30-40 years.

yeah, she really should eat some more veggies, that I do know.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

I had a few box turtles in a while ago and have always had trouble getting them to eat the veggies,, what I used to do is place the bugs in with the veggies and sometimes that worked.

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I have sucker tattood on my forehead