What's this growth on my turtle's skin? Should I take it to the vet?

It appears as if Gobo has developed an abscess. An abscess forms as a result of some minor infection. Ideally, he should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. The abscess should be cleaned and flushed. Antibiotics will likely be indicated after. Maintain adequate water quality and increased temperature by about 5 degrees F to aid in recovery.

This is most likely a tumor or an abscess. In either case, it will need to be evaluated and treated by your veterinarian. If it is a mass it may need to be removed. If it is an abscess it will need to be surgically debrided and the turtle will need a course of antibiotics. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Those appear to be papillomas caused by a turtle-specific herpesvirus. You would need to have Torti examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to confirm fibropapillomatosis. The "pimples" are actually benign masses. Surgical resection or laser ablation may be an option to prevent larger tumors from interfering with swimming, vision, breathing or eating.

I would be concerned about the possibility of a tumor or an abscess/infection. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. They can perform a needle aspirate to get an idea about what it may be and develop a treatment plan. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon.

If it appeared and grew rapidly, have Sandy examined by your veterinarian or a vet experience din treating reptiles. A fine needle aspirate can be done in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. This may diagnose infection, inflammation, a malignancy or a benign mass. In the meantime, provide pristine water conditions to prevent infection. A proper diet UVB light and heat supply are essential for good health and digestion. You can find a care sheet at the link below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Turtles-Tortoises/Turtle-Care/Pink-Belly-Side-Neck-Turtle/

Nice looking turtle! Barry could have a small wound that is trying to heal, like an abscess. I would at this point just monitor the bump and make sure it isn't getting bigger or that more appear. I think there is a good chance it's going to disappear on it own.

It could be local infection. Monitor it for change or growth. You can gently cleanse the area using diluted betadine or chlorhexidine once or twice daily. Confirm adequate water quality to prevent secondary infection and to promote healing. Consider increasing the water and basking temperatures by a few degrees to aid in recovery. Ideally, a UVB light source should be provided for 12-14 hours daily. It should be no more than 14 inches away from the basking spot and unblocked by either glass or plexiglass for maximum benefits. If the spot does not heal or spreads, have Tabby examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. You can read more about care at this link: http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html