A co-worker of mine came to me with concerns about her 2 turtles. She didn't know what kind they are but I think Yellow Bellied Sliders are what they are commonly called. She is concerned about the shell referring to whitish areas which are not visible to me in any of the pics. She says she had them in too cramped of a space and she recently got a 50 gallon aquarium for each of them. I advised her to start planning for a pond in the near future. She separated then because they were fighting and one got bit. This is natural in cramped living quarters I assume. To me, the first three pics look to have pyramiding of their shells. Is this caused by cramped space or malnutrition? They have been living their whole lives on commercial turtle pellets which could account for vitamin deficiencies. Also she admitted to just recently learning about the lighting requirements and claims to have proper lighting now. Here are the pictures that she sent me. Any advise would be great. This woman feels guilty about the condition of her turtles. She said for me to make a list of whatever she needs to improve the health of her turtles and she will try to find it all this weekend. Thanks.

I can't claim to know anything about turtles I'm afraid, but there are a number of important things here; firstly, you must properly identify the species so you can provide adequate care for it. Then research that species as much as you can - internet, books and so on.

I won't bother with the lecture, as you said your friend seems to have seen the error of her ways and is willing to put it right. However, any species that a)requires UV lighting, b)requires a varied and balanced and nutritional diet and c)requires space and the right environment, that hasn't been properly provided for will be suffering from something; Metabolic Bone Disease, malnutrition, stress, parasites, disease..

Aside from getting advice from the net and people on here, my advice would be to then take the turtles to a qualified herp vet; the fighting may have resulted in injury which could have become infected, or the turtles could be suffering from a fungal or bacterial infection,on top of everything else listed - from what you described about the white spots then this could be a sign. Anything like that would need treating properly by a qualified person and then hopefully, in the correct set up, these guys will thrive. Good luck.

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The wound from the bite has completely healed. It is specifically the way that the scutes are lifting off the turtle's shell that has her most concerned. Thanks for the reply though. Hopefully someone with more knowledge of turtles will be able to give a little more advice.

I, not an expert either but the turtle appaers to be shedding the scutes which is normal.
as far as I know pyramiding is caused by to much protien usually from eating only pellets
I dont know what kind of turtle it is maybe The happy turltes pub for help IDing http://invisionfree.com/forums/Happy...ex.php?act=idx

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