All Turtles Message Board

fyretech · Level 1 Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

I bought 2 red ear sliders about a month ago. Now their shells are soft and have white spots on them. And the lines on the shell, are turning black. Is this normal? Are they getting ready to shed their shell? or is it shell rot perhaps?

I have no idea what it is or what to do. Can someone please help?

turtle_grl77 · Level 4 Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 985 Location: Florida

Would need to see pics. How big are your turtles? What type of setup do you have for the little guys?

fyretech · Level 1 Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

My turtles are in a tank, not sure what size but it was the second biggest that was at the pet store , a heater, a basking light, a UVB light, a filter, a basking area, and a thermometer.

I'm not sure how to insert an image on here though...[/img]

turtle_grl77 · Level 4 Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 985 Location: Florida

You need to host your pic at photobucket.com or any site like that. Copy and paste the image code and then make sure that the disable BBCode in post is unmarked.

fyretech · Level 1 Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

Here are the photos of my turtles, I've circled and written the problems in red. I hope this helps! I also have a question about those calcium blocks. Are they to be in the tank constantly? on the back it says it lasts 60 days but by the end of the week mine is completely dissolved, do i wait until 60 days is up before i put a new one in? or just throw another in once it's dissolved?

fyretech · Level 1 Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

Can anyone help with my problem? Anyone at all???

fishandcandy · Level 3 Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 200 Location: Indio, CA

Are your "calcium blocks" the turtle shaped ones? If so, they are not calcium blocks. You can buy cuttlebone for birds and give them that.
The brown spots on the belly look normal to me, but the white spots and soft shells are strange. They should not have soft shells.
How big are they? Smaller babies have softer shells than adults.
Do your turtles bask? Can you post a pic/give more info about their tank?

fyretech · Level 1 Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

My calcium block is the turtle shaped ones. So I went out about 10 mins ago and bought a Cuttlebone as you suggested. Now, do I put the whole thing in the tank? or do I break it up in pieces? if so what size pieces? 1 inch? 2 inch??

My turtles are about 1.5 inches long. I think they are just babies, I would assume since they aren't every long. Here are 3 photos of the tank, in the first, where it says thermometer i meant heater. My mind is a little blank at the moment.

As for basking, they only do that when they think no one is in the room, If I get up from the couch or walk by the tank they dive right back in the water. Sometimes if I get up early enough I see them on their log, but it's not very often. I also have their light on for 12 hours then off for 12 hours. They seem to bask at night, when the light isn't on. I think mostly because we are sleeping and the house is quiet.

turtle_grl77 · Level 4 Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 985 Location: Florida

I thought calcium sulfate was for diseases. I always add a piece of the turtle shaped thing in every other water change. So far so good.

kelleytidwell · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject:

Tutles can get on a cycle really easy... once you figure it out it's easy to see what they do. RES need lots of clean water so make sure you are keeping it clean. As for the calcium I once left a bone in there for a week he used it as a surf board so funny. Love it but it did desolve and leave a film in the water. If you do see it desolve I reccomend takeing it out and cleaning the water. They like there clean water. Especially ones born captive. As for your spots...... when turtles are babies they do change there colors. Mine was very bright green when he was a baby and now he's very dark. I'd be more concerned with the softness.......but if there very young then you won't know if it's n ormal or not. Are there other turtles with him do they have the same spots? is this turtle do you ever see it bask... what is your watts on your UV light?
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