My turtle is shedding. Should I worry about its health without a vet?

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

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Jimmy and including a photo, although the photo does not depict white lesions. White lesions could be shed skin but that usually falls off. White lesions can also be infected tissue from bacterial or fungal infecitons. A veterinary visit can help with an assessment and diagnostic/treatment plan. Check and correct water quality as pristine conditions are required for healing and prevention of further problems. Review diet as vitamin A deficiencies can play a part in secondary infections. Good luck.

Thanks for your question about Misty, and thanks for the photos - they are very helpful. It looks like the scutes (keratin covering on the shell ) are beginning to shed. This is a normal process in aquatic turtles, and they often look white as they are coming off. You can see if any of them are raised or loose - these you can remove. If they aren’t loose, please don’t manipulate them - they’ll come off on their own. It is difficult to evaluate for shell rot in these photos due to the shedding scutes, but please repost a question if you continue to have concerns after some of the scutes come off. I hope that helps, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes, this looks very serious. I suggest you dry dock her for a bit and do daily soaks in dilute Betadine solution (not scrub). Dilute 1 part betadine with 10 parts water. You can look up YouTube videos on dry docking. You also need to review all of your husbandry to make sure you are doing everything 100% correct - water temperature, diet, lighting, etc. If she is not eating or is not responding to treatment at home you will need to get her to a vet. ( https://yarmouthvetcenter.com/dry-docking-turtles.pml ) ( http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ )

Thanks for reaching out about Lio and including photos. The pictures don't show any concerns except maybe some algae growing on the shell. This might be an indication of poor water quality. Test and correct water quality problems. For optimal growth, red eared sliders need to kept at a specific temperature range for optimal growth. Good luck.

Turtles need more than a heat lamp for good health. Basic requirements include: clean water, a water heater, UVB light, basking platform, balanced diet and vitamins and minerals. Sunlight is good, however window panes and tank glass block most of the beneficial UVA/UVB rays that turtles need to synthesize Vitamin D3 and to properly utilize calcium. A good UVB bulb should be placed above the tank no more than 12-14 inches away from the basking area. It should not be blocked by glass, Plexiglass or fine mesh. The peeling and white spots may be due to poor water quality, poor diet, lack of UVB lighting or a combination of the three. Keep water clean via filtration and weekly partial water changes. Scoop out uneaten food daily. The filter should be rated for at least twice the volume of the tank since turtles can be very messy. You may be able to get Shelby to eat greens if you offer them about an hour or two after the heat lamp comes on in the morning. This will give her time to warm up. A cold reptile will not eat. Dice the greens and vegetables into manageable pieces. they should be dusted several times weekly with a calcium supplement and a multivitamin. Once she eats the greens, you can offer pellets and protein (feeder fish, nightcrawlers, crickets, raw beef heart, etc.). The spots can be gently scrubbed daily using a soft bristled brush and diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens). Allow for a 1-2 hour dry dock (out of the water) after each cleaning.If it doesn't improve or if Shelby becomes lethargic or stops eating, then have her examined by a your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Since most aquatic turtles are red eared sliders or yellow bellied sliders, I have included a link regarding care and keeping below. If you have a different species, post a new question with the species or request a consultation and we can discuss the case in greater detail. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html