Posted by:
kensopher
at Sat Jan 27 19:03:19 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by kensopher ]
Thanks Steph...let me just add some to that.
Depending on what is the source of the infection (bacterial or fungal), you may have to treat this for 6 months or more. Shells are usually slow to heal.
Betadine is VERY strong, and you should dilute it well if you use it. DO NOT GET BETADINE IN THE TURTLE'S EYES, NOSE, MOUTH, OR ANUS. You can mix up your solution and then dab it up with a toothbrush. Brush the shell well, let it sit for a minute or so, then rinse the turtle off.
Chlorhexidine is pretty safe. You can use the same toothbrush method with this. Most solutions are 10 to 20%. If you have a concentrate, you'll obviously have to dilute it.
You can do this once a day.
As far as prevention, that's a tough one. Young Florida box turtles are typically very tolerant of hot, humid conditions where fungi and bacteria usually thrive. It seems like the swampier things are, the better the turtles do. Being suited to this habitat, it is usually very rare for a Florida box turtle to get a shell infection. It makes prevention tough. Really, you'd have to describe your husbandry in detail and then we could respond to anything that throws up a red flag. Other than that...I'd stick to the basics. A stroll backwards through this forum should help.
Make sure to quarantine those 4 turtles. Don't let anything they've come in contact with touch the other turtles unless it has first been soaked in 10% bleach...including your hands.
You seemed nervous about things in the first post of this thread. Taking the turtles to a qualified herp Veterinarian is not only superior to any advice given on this forum, but it can also help to set your mind at ease. Things are changing, and more and more herp Vets. are popping up throughout the US. This very site has an aide to help you find one.
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RE: i need help - kensopher, Sat Jan 27 19:03:19 2007