White Spots on Shell
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My two terps have white spots on the backs of their shells, and we aren’t really sure if these are fungal parasites or not. They have just recently appeared and seem to be getting worse. How or why do you think that this has happened? When we first discovered them, they were slightly discolored, and so we brushed them with a toothbrush, and they are now white. They still have a very good appetite, and they bask completely out of the water and quite frequently. Does anyone have any idea about what this is, and how we treat it. We have read up on some past articles and saw some medicines, such as Acriflaven and Meth Blue. Would this help, and where do we purchase these medications? Thank you very much for you advice and time! We have also taken pictures for you view and consideration. It will be in a folder entitled “Amen White Spots”
Hello Miki Dun, If it is not air inside the scutes it is probably a fungus/bacteria infection or the beginning of superficial shell rot. Some people use fish medications like the ones you described that could be probably found at pet stores like Petco. Other products that are also used are very diluted betadine (1 part betadine to 10 parts water) or diluted povidone-iodine solutions that you could find online by searching google. Silver sulfadiazine is a cream that could be used but you could only buy it through a veterinarian. The process usually used is to soak or swab the turtles with this solutions and then place them in a dry container for an hour or two before returning them to their water tanks. If the situation doesn’t improve the spots in the area should be be debrided by a veterinarian. Some people know how to do this with a dremel tool, but an experienced veterinarian is better. I had terrapins since the 70’s and I haven’t experienced the white spots you described but I have dealt with skin fungus and other types of shell rot. What always work for me is to place the turtles in a 5 gallon rubbermaid-like container with sea salt mix (the one sold for marine aquariums). I just place 3 gallons of (dechlorinated) water and add 1/4 cup of the sea salt mix. I leave them in there for a couple of hours and softly brush the area with a soft toothbrush. I do this daily for 2 weeks. The problem of fungus problem disappears in less than a week. Shell rot takes longer depending on how advanced it is. This is what I try before anything else and usually works or helps a lot. If it does not work I use the diluted betadine swab with a tooth brush and then keep them dry for an hour. There are different ways to deal with these type of problems and everybody have their preferred methods and medications. Probably you’ll get other choices of treatments as well from the other members. Good luck with your beautiful terrapis 🙂 Check this link to see if what they describe is what your turtles have; http://www.turtlepuddle.org/health/shellrot.html P.S. Please be careful with the dilution of medicaments because they could have detrimental effects on the kidneys. — In diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com, “Miki Dun”
Looks like the beginning of a little shell rot to me. I haven’t had alot of luck treating it. I have tried the meth blue and acriflavine which seem to work great on the tiny white spots between scutes but not what I am seeing on yours. That is highly contagious.I also have used on rot the nolvasan, s.cream and betadine. I would give it a shot as I did, I would use whatever you have easier access to. Probably the betadine, clean the areas really well and if any chalky material can be removed do so with care. It doesn’t look that far along so I doubt you will get much off of the scute. But definitey dry dock after you apply the med,under a light. I would agressively try to treat it for at least two weeks. Two times a day or three if you have the time. Some people do it over night, just depends on if you work etc. I treated mine, two came out of hibernation last year with a bit,then this year one of them had a bit more after hibernating. None of my others got it that hibernated with them. Mine just like to come out of hibernation with it, so far. But I did treat it agressively for awhile,and it did keep it from spreading, I assume. If it stays on the scutes like it is now,shedding may help alot. I can still see it on my two, it bothers me but it is not spreading etc. MIne were not able to get out into the sunshine when they got their first signs of it, and that might have been a real help. I had to use artificial lighting. So I would get them outside as much as possible, and definitely switch to brackish if not already for awhile anyway.Goodluck,Lisa
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