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Why does my red eared slider turtle have white spots on its shell?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My baby red eared slider turtle has some white spots on its shell. What should I do?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Todd Cecil

Veterinarian

Published on March 6th, 2020

Thanks for reaching out about Kelby and including photos. Can you gently scratch the white areas with your fingernail? Is so, probably mineral accumulations from the water and not a problem. If not, this could be keratin erosion from sub-standard water quality, infections, too cold of an environment. A veterinary visit would be recommended.
Good luck.

3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 5th, 2020
The skin of turtles periodically (and normally) sheds off in pieces. In the water, it appears as whitish, "fuzzy" stuff coming off the skin that people may mistaken for fungus or other disease. I would not be worried about it at this stage. Check the shell closely for any signs of abnormalities in the shell suggesting disease. If you are not sure then see your veterinarian.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Todd Cecil
Veterinarian
Published on September 2nd, 2019
Thanks for reaching out about Bucky and including photos. The white areas are exposed bone and needs to be addressed by a veterinarian. Water must be kept in a pristine condition. A topical antibiotic can be applied in a thin layer but systemic antibiotic are likely needed.
Good luck.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on September 28th, 2018
The spots on the scutes down the center look like they have some air or water underneath them. This happens when a turtle is ready to shed. This is normal. Do not attempt to peel the scutes off or remove them yourself. They will come off on their own.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

What are these white chalky spots on my red eared slider's shell?

Thanks for reaching out about Squirt and including a photo. The two most common causes of this are mineral accumulations with hard water and exposed bone. Mineral accumulations you should be able to scratch off with a fingernail. Water source might need to be changed to filtered water or commercially available spring water. Exposed bone is usually due to poor water quality (high bacterial or algal loads) that erode the keratin layer. Water changes need to be made more often, but a veterinary visit is recommended as systemic antibiotics might be required. Good luck.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Why does my red-eared slider have white patches on its shell?

Thanks for reaching out about Shelly and including a photo. The white on the shell could be hard water deposits that are not really harmful, but a new water source needs to be used. The white can also be exposed bone, which lies underneath the keratin of the shell. This could be due to dietary deficiencies, poor water quality that can erode shell and other problems. Without knowing the cause, there is no home remedy that can be recommended. Diet needs to include whole prey (fish), pellets and offer some vegetables (although many will not eat them). Good luck.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My baby red-eared slider has white spots on its shell. What is it?

It could be some minor shell rot. Use a soft bristled toothbrush and some diluted betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) to scrub the affected area once or twice daily. Allow for a 1 hour dry dock (out of the water) after each cleaning. Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. If the spots do not resolve or if they spread, have Squirtle physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. A UVB light source, calcium powder and multivitamin will promote shell health. You can also float a piece of cuttlebone in the tank for him to munch on as needed. It will provide additional calcium. Find the cuttlebone in the Bird section of the local Petco. The link below will provide additional information regarding the care of sliders. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

What are the white spots and bumps on my red-eared slider's shell?

If you have exceptionally "hard" water, it could be calcium deposits, but you would likely have noticed it prior to or during the transfer. Have the water tested to be sure. Dry dock them for 2-3 hours a day for the next few days and see if that makes a difference. You can use a soft bristled brush and some diluted chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) to gently scrub the shells before dry docking. Continue to monitor for lethargy, decreased appetite and softness or pitting on the shells. See your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles for a physical exam if necessary.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Is my baby turtle's shell rot? How do I treat white shell spots?

Thanks for reaching out about Muddy and including photos. By the photos, the lesions do not appear serious. White lesions can appear from other traumas, of which algae can invade. Scrubbing the shell, and keeping water quality good, should work well. If lesions grow, seeking an appointment with a reptile veterinarian is recommended. Good luck.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why does my turtle have white spots on its neck? Is it serious?

White spots on an aquatic turtle is often related to husbandry - most specifically the quality of the water. Aquatic turtles can be very dirty, and therefore they challenge most water filtration systems and it can be difficult to keep the water clean. I would recommend reviewing your husbandry with a care sheet, such as those for soft shelled turtles on Reptiles Magazine's website, and ensuring that it is as perfect as possible. You can see if the white spots are attached or if there is something just growing on the surface of your turtle - you can use Q-tips or a cloth to try to gently wipe them off, but be careful that you don't wipe too hard and hurt the turtle, and use caution in case Shiro tries to bite while you are trying this. If the white spots do not come off, I would recommend that Shiro is seen by a veterinarian. The spots may be bacterial or fungal growth from water quality problems, as mentioned above, but they may also be a growth of tissue as well. A veterinarian can sample the area, and look at the material under the microscope to determine what it is composed of. From there, they can make recommendations about diagnostic tests or treatments that can be used.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My red-eared slider has white spots and peeling skin. What's wrong?

I would be concerned about possible fungal infection. If you cannot make it to a vet I would recommend placing them in a dry environment three times a day for 20-30 minutes. You can buy iodine and dilute it a lot and apply small amount to the lesions. Also some pet stores have drops to place in water of tank to help with fungal growth.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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