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Hi, I'm a Mississippi Map Turtle owner, I recently discovered that turtles are meant to shed their scutes. I didn't know as this is my first turtle and he hasn't shed before, I've now had him for 2+ years. There was a lot of algae build up on his shell, and I've slowly worked to gently clean it off. Since cleaning it I've noticed spots on his shell that seem to be chipping away, and spots where the algae grew underneath the shell and created small bubbles. Is this shell rot? How can I help him?

Hi, I'm a Mississippi Map Turtle owner, I recently discovered that turtles are meant to shed their scutes. I didn't know as this is my first turtle and he hasn't shed before, I've now had him for 2+ years. There was a lot of algae build up on his shell, and I've slowly worked to gently clean it off. Since cleaning it I've noticed spots on his shell that seem to be chipping away, and spots where the algae grew underneath the shell and created small bubbles. Is this shell rot? How can I help him?

Updated On November 26th, 2018

Pet's info: Reptile | Aquatic Turtle | Male

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Answered By Eryn Taormina, DVM

Veterinarian

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Hi there! So sorry to hear about Willow's shell troubles. You can try dry-docking him and just letting him into the water for an hour a day to defecate to let the shell really dry out. You can clean the shell with some very dilute betadine or iodine, or chlorhexidine solution mixed one part solution with 10 parts water 2-3 times per day while you dry dock. Keep in mind, when trying to feed him a couple times per week, he'll want to be in the water for that as well as for going to the bathroom. They will not eat when being dry docked. If here is no improvement at all in a week or so, he may need some prescription cream to apply to the shell. Shell rot usually will be a result of water quality not being ideal. Below is a link to Austin's turtle page, one of my favorite turtle husbandry pages, as well as a link about treating shell rot. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck! http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-mississippi_map.htm https://www.vettails.com/vettails/2016/2/21/how-i-treat-shell-rot-in-turtles

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