My yellow belly slider's poop looks bloody and scaly. What's wrong?

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 Minnie and including a photo. The pink skin can possibly be a sign of dermal inflammation or infection. A leading cause is poor water quality so a water change was a good idea. Nutritional deficiencies can lead to dermal lesions, specifically vitamin A. The dried shrimp should be considered a snack, with minimal nutritional value. A veterinary visit is recommended to investigate the red/pink flakes from the intestinal tract, if blood then could be serious. Good luck.

Keep him warm and as stress free as possible. If he is on loose substrate, switch him to slate, paper towels or reptile carpeting to prevent material from sticking to his vent. Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites.

It is not uncommon for a turtle this small to have a somewhat soft shell. Continue to monitor for bleeding, pitting or lethargy. maintain pristine water quality. At this size, water depth should be no deeper than twice the shell length.provide a water heater, water filter, basking area out of the water, a heat lamp for basking and a UVB light source. Offer a balanced diet including prey (feeder fish, nightcrawlers, etc), fresh diced greens and vegetables and commercial pellets. A multivitamin and a calcium supplement should be dusted onto foods regularly. You can review slider care at the link below. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

Hi there. It sounds like your pet may have encountered an overdose of vitamin A, which is actually a lot more common than you think. The same signs and symptoms are often present with the excess of the vitamin A as with the deficiency-as well as skin sloughing, loss of nails, ulcerations, etc. First I would recommend stopping supplementation. I would encourage you to see a vet as soon as possible that sees reptiles-it may need fluids and other supportive care immediately. If you pet has severely overdosed, it can be fatal.

Without an image, it is difficult to determine what is going on. Ideally, you should have the turtle physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. He or she may be able to diagnose and treat the underlying cause. In the meantime, maintain pristine water quality and proper environmental parameters. Keep water depth at no more than twice the length of the shell. Provide a UVB light source, filtration and a water heater. Feed a balanced diet including protein (feeder fish, nightcrawlers, etc), fresh greens and vegetables and commercial pellets. You can review slider care at the links below. (Yes, they say Red Eared Slider, but care for Yellow Bellied Sliders is the same). http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

Retained scutes may be caused by poor husbandry. Confirm adequate water quality, temperatures, UVB lighting and nutrition. Make sure the basking area is completely out of the water. Add foods high in vitamin E and calcium to promote shell health. Limit protein as this can cause rapid growth and lead to pyramiding. Monitor for signs of infection such as soft or pitted areas on the shell, fungal/bacterial growth, bleeding or lethargy. The following link will provide more information regarding care and husbandry of sliders. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html