My turtle's shell is green. Is this normal or should I be concerned?

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

Thanks for reaching out about Bolt and including photos. Shell color changes front items in the water are rarely a problem unless toxic. Algae can often change the color greenish. The white line is not noted on the photos but can sometimes be a growth line or residue from hard water (mineral deposits). Trying to prevent contaminants from falling into the pond will help. Maintain good water quality, offer a well rounded diet and plenty of sunlight (natural is better than artificial) and seek a veterinarian if your concerns continue. Good luck.

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.

Thanks for including the pictures. I would be concerned that the shell discoloration on the plastron (lower shell) is a clinical sign of an infection or bruising. On one picture, there appears to be several areas where the shell is discolored (grayish). If it appears green to you, see if you can scratch it free with your fingernail, it could be algae. Algae build up on the shell is often a sign of water quality issues. If the discoloration seems to be deeper, it might be an infection and painful, and why he tried to bite. If this is the case, a visit to a reptile veterinarian is recommended.

Thanks for reaching out about Abby and including photos. She does appear to have a good amount of algae on her shell. Test and correct water quality as high phosphates and too much lighting are often culprits. The shell can be gently scrubbed with water or a mild soap (Dawn dish soap) and then rinsed. Keeping her dry for prolonged periods of time can kill the algae but if water quality not corrected, problem could re-occur. Good luck.

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.

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.