Why is my tortoise shedding head scales? Is the temperature too high?

Thanks for reaching out about Coopy. It is fine to give him a bath when he is dirty, probably lukewarm, around 80 degrees in water up to his mid neck. The bath shouldn't last more than 5-10 minutes. Wipe off or scrub (with old gentle toothbrush) to clean away dirt. Then towel dry, provide heat support for additional drying. Good luck.

Shedding is a perfectly normal physiological activity. The old skin is getting too small for the body as it is growing, and old skin does not expand, so new skin forms underneath the old skin and the old skin dries out and is only a dead shell. Getting rid of that dead skin shell is not painful, on the contrary, your turtle will feel a lot better afterwards as the skin is not as tight anymore. Imagine wearing a shirt that is way too tight...that is not very comfortable, is it? Take it off and put on a shirt that fits perfectly, and you will feel a lot better! This is how the turtle feels.

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.

Check the temps in the enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. A soak in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte can provide warmth and treat or prevent minor dehydration. The loose scutes may be normal shedding or not. An exam would be needed to diagnose any underlying cause. If the condition does not improve, have your tortoise examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. If you need to find a vet, use the link below. https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

Thanks for reaching out about Tadd and including photos. He appears to be in a a shed where they loose the outer layer of keratin. Check and correct water quality for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. A review of the diet is important. Good luck.

Check environmental parameters first. Make sure the relative humidity level is correct. For Russians, it can range between 40% and 60%. Provide adequate UVB lighting. If the bulb is more than 6 months old, replace it. Provide a balanced diet including vitamin and mineral supplementation to promote shell health. Survey the enclosure and remove any sharp rocks or furniture. These can cause small scratches which can lead to infection. You can gently clean the shell using a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution once or twice daily. If there is no improvement in the shell condition after 5-7 days, consider an exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. You can review tortoise care at the links below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Russian-Tortoise/ https://www.petcoach.co/amp/article/russian-tortoise-habitats-how-to-create

Thanks for reaching out about your aquatic turtle. Water temperature needs to be kept warm for nutrient absorption. Without pictures, it is difficult to assess the shell. Insects are important for these young animals but all worms/insects need to be gut loaded for nutrients, as otherwise are bags of fat. High calcium levels are important for shell strength. Good luck.