Is my red eared slider turtle rubbing its shell and digging normally?

This is not normal, as turtles are air breathers. Hiding under the substrate could be due to fear or if getting too cold. As stated prior, husbandry changes should be made in an attempt to provide better husbandry, a haul out site that is warm. Good luck.

Retained scutes may be caused by poor husbandry. Confirm adequate water quality, temperatures, UVB lighting and nutrition. Make sure the basking area is completely out of the water. Add foods high in vitamin E and calcium to promote shell health. Limit protein as this can cause rapid growth and lead to pyramiding. Monitor for signs of infection such as soft or pitted areas on the shell, fungal/bacterial growth, bleeding or lethargy. The following link will provide more information regarding care and husbandry of sliders. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

The peeling scutes may be normal shedding. Do not attempt to remove them yourself. Maintain pristine water quality. You can use a soft bristled tooth brush and a diluted Betadine solution to gently scrub the shell or affected areas. Allow for a 1 hour dry dock (out of the water) after each cleaning. If the UVB bulb has been in use longer than 6 months, replace it. Make sure it is not blocked by fine mesh, glass or plexiglass. Provide a balanced diet including prey, fresh greens and vegetables and a commercial pelleted diet. Dust food and prey with both a multivitamin and a calcium supplement regularly.

He looks great! Those spots are normal. You can see how consistent they are around his shell. Monitor him and water quality. Shell rot will appear as pitting, discoloration or very soft shell condition.

This could be very normal for him as long as he is still eating normally! If he isn’t eating then I would have your vet look at him. You may consider making his basking platform a little bigger if you’re concerned he is having trouble staying on it. I hope this helps! Red eared slider have great little personalities!

Looks can be deceiving, but the shell looks fine in the picture provided. "Heathy" is more than just a clean shell though. He should be eating and defecating normally, basking regularly and swimming. There should be no redness or pitting on the shell. Provide clean water at proper temp, a basking spot also at proper temp, UVB lighting and an appropriate diet. You can review the article at the link below to confirm correct husbandry. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

I don't think this is anything to worry about. This does not look like shell rot - appears to be a scrape. She may be pyramiding. It is hard to tell from the photo angle. You can't reverse it, but you can prevent it from worsening by making sure the diet is 100% correct, as well as the rest of the husbandry. You can refer to this link: ( http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ )