All Turtles Message Board

icarus · Guest Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 1

My False Map, ever since i've had him [Harley] has never fully shedded a single scute. I've done everything possible for him, been the best mom I could, so i dont know if it's because something i did not prepare well enough for him, or something else. I read that it is not harmful to them to peel them off yourself, which i did to scrub the algae off that had started to grow under them [i was scared an infection would start]. Is there anything i can do to help him shed his scutes better? Help, Thanks =]

Rennifer · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 12:55 am Post subject:

I'd be careful about pulling the skutes off yourself. Pulling them off prematurely can sometimes expose parts under the skute that aren't fully developed yet. I'm not as experienced with turtles as some of the other people around here, but it was actually on this site that I read that you shouldnt peel them off, so I'd double check your sources that said you can, just to be safe Razz