Why is my turtle's shell soft and has a spot on its head? Contagious?

If there are soft areas in the shell, Ryder may have shell rot or metabolic bone disease. I would recommend a visit to a reptile vet to assess and diagnose her. Untreated these can potent be fatal. Good luck and I hope she recovers quickly. Arav.com may help you find a vet if needed.

Looks like ulcerative shell disease which is often called SCUD or 'shell rot'. It comes in two primary forms. The dry form is often associated with a fungal infection and the wet form is often associated with gram negative bacteria (and usually develops after an injury to the shell). This looks to be the dry form. Treatment consists of cleaning the area with a diluted Betadine solution (1 part betadine to 10 parts water). Put it on the affected areas, let it sit for 5-10 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. I would do this twice a day. Also dry docking for 4-8 hours a day is strongly recommended. Go over all your husbandry carefully - ie: water quality/chemistry, lighting, diet, etc. as usually this is a husbandry issue. This article is very informative. https://www.amazingamazon.com.au/murray-river-turtle-care-short-neck-turtle-care Hope this helps. Best wishes!

It appears as if Franklin is missing a pectoral scute. This can be due to trauma, infection or a combination of the two. A turtle can develop infection from something as "minor" as a scratch on the shell. Have Franklin examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. He may need treatment and systemic antibiotics. In the meantime, maintain pristine water quality which will aid in healing and limit secondary infection and other complications. Consider increasing ambient temps by a few degrees to aid in recovery. Franklin may ultimately need to be dry docked (kept out of water) for most of the day until he heals.

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.

Shell rot is characterized by pitting, soft spots, foul odor or discharge or loss of scutes. It can be a serious condition and requires veterinary attention. Your turtle may have rot or the discoloration may be due to excess mold or algae. Clean the tank, do a water change and change the filter media. Confirm proper environmental conditions for your particular species of turtle. Try using a toothbrush and gently scrubbing the affected area of the shell. Make sure your turtle has a warm, dry basking area with proper UVB lighting. If your UVB bulb is older than 6 months, replace it. Do not place glass or plastic covers between the turtle and the UVB bulb. Feed an appropriate diet and dust food with a calcium supplement once a week.

I think this could be shell rot, however, t is impossible for me to diagnose this over the internet with just a photo. It is always best to get an in-person exam from your local reptile vet. Here is a link to an article about this problem: ( http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Turtles-Tortoises/Turtle-Care/Turtle-Shell-Rot/ ) Shell rot is almost always due to improper husbandry. Please review your husbandry carefully and make sure you are doing everything 100% correct. ( http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Turtles-Tortoises/Painted-Turtle/ ) Best wishes.

Thanks for reaching out about Rizzo and including photos. This does appear to be a deep shell infection. First, water quality is incredibly important. All substrate (rocks, soil) should be removed. Water changes daily. Next, a dry environment needs to be set up to allow the wound to dry. Aquatic turtles can stay out of the water for very long periods of time. Rizzo can be kept dry all day and allowed two periods of time to be allowed to eat (1-2 hours each time) as turtles will not eat if dry. This will all allow the topical application of a anti-microbial cream, and not have it wash off. A soft towel or T-shirts can be used for bedding. Lastly, a veterinary visit is needed to prescribe systemic antibiotics, likely injections, as creams don't penetrate too deeply. These will heal over time if therapy is aggressive. Good luck.