Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi all,i've got a 5" matamata,and it's doing something that i've never witnessed in turtles.the skin on the bottom of it's neck is faded and peeling,(does not look irritated or inflamed),and doesn't seem to cause "jub jub" any pain,as i can touch the loose skin with my fingernail with no head jerking,or any panic response.the skin under the peeling skin is full of color,nice & vibrant red-pink,like it was when i got the turtle.
it actually looks like it's shedding.is that normal?i know that the shell sheds,but does the skin shed too?is this just something that i've never noticed on my other,smaller turtles,or is this cause for concern."Jub Jub"'s appetite has never been better,and there's no rough substrate,mainly plain glass w/ a little peat moss in the water for acidity.it eats a varied diet of fish(small bream,shiners,and grass shrimp from my neighborhood's stocked pond,the occasional goldfish or rosy red when the "fishing's" bad.).
i wish that i could take a pic,but no cam.thanks!
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1.1 coastal carpets (adidas,serena)
1.0 bearded dragon (trouble)
0.0.1 ally snapper (megalon)
0.0.1 matamata (jub jub)
1.1 eastern box turtles (spanky,lacey)
1.1 penisula cooters (ms piggy,turtle to be named later)
1.0 mutt (rufus)
2.0 kids (cb)
0.1 wife (wc)

Yes. Totally normal. I'm surprised you never noticed before. Have you had the turtle long?

Walt

i just never paid close enough attention,i guess.i've had the mata about 3 months now.thanks!
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1.1 coastal carpets (adidas,serena)
1.0 bearded dragon (trouble)
0.0.1 ally snapper (megalon)
0.0.1 matamata (jub jub)
1.1 eastern box turtles (spanky,lacey)
1.1 penisula cooters (ms piggy,turtle to be named later)
1.0 mutt (rufus)
2.0 kids (cb)
0.1 wife (wc)

Turtles shed just like any other reptile.