Why does my turtle have white bumps on its body? What should I do?

Thanks for reaching out about Tommy and including a photo. These bubbles can be due to a bacterial infections or a parasitic infestation. Check and correct water quality. A veterinary visit is recommended to assist with a diagnostic and treatment plan. Good luck.

Hi, you’re right, the lumps are difficult to see in the photos. Lumps on or in a turtle shell can be from a number of things. There can be an underlying metabolic issue like metabolic bone disease (lack of UVB light and imbalance of calcium/phosphorus), or pyramiding, which can be from high protein and low humidity. Infections (bacteria, fungus, some parasites) can also cause shell lumps. Because these issues are all so different, it’s important to have Cookie examined by a veterinarian so they can do some tests and get her on the best treatment, if indicated. Good luck!

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.

It is possible it is an abscess from a prior injury or infection. It could also be a tumor of some sort. Have Mac examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. A fine needle aspirate can be done in the clinic to collect a sample for pathology. This may provide a diagnosis.

This may be localized infection or inflammation. It could also be an old injury. Keep the area clean. You can use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution to gently clean the area daily. Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. Check temps in the tank as well. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. You can review slider care at the links below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

White spots on an aquatic turtle is often related to husbandry - most specifically the quality of the water. Aquatic turtles can be very dirty, and therefore they challenge most water filtration systems and it can be difficult to keep the water clean. I would recommend reviewing your husbandry with a care sheet, such as those for soft shelled turtles on Reptiles Magazine's website, and ensuring that it is as perfect as possible. You can see if the white spots are attached or if there is something just growing on the surface of your turtle - you can use Q-tips or a cloth to try to gently wipe them off, but be careful that you don't wipe too hard and hurt the turtle, and use caution in case Shiro tries to bite while you are trying this. If the white spots do not come off, I would recommend that Shiro is seen by a veterinarian. The spots may be bacterial or fungal growth from water quality problems, as mentioned above, but they may also be a growth of tissue as well. A veterinarian can sample the area, and look at the material under the microscope to determine what it is composed of. From there, they can make recommendations about diagnostic tests or treatments that can be used.

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/