Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone tell me if there is a way to get rid of a red fungus growing on my Diamondback Terrapin. The turtle is in a freshwater plastic wall pond, no other turtles in the pond. Fungus appears to be reddish orange and growing around the neck and along the folds of the front and rear legs. Water changes are frequent. Any suggestions?

Please help.
Thanks,

Paul

I was hoping that someone with more Diamondback experience would take this one, but I'll give 'er a try.

I do have experience dealing with chelonian fungal infections. One of the best things that you can do is to keep the turtle dry. For a period of several weeks, keep the turtle in a dry enclosure for most of the day and all night. Place the turtle in the water for only an hour or two per day to feed and rehydrate. This alone should do wonders for curing the fungus. Unless your turtle is very young, the dry time shouldn't harm him/her.

Also, there are some very effective fungicides that are available at the Veterinarian. I can't specifically tell you which one to use, but I know that virtually 100% of basic Vet. clinics will have a fungicidal cream that you can apply. Taking the turtle to a vet will also help to verify that this is in fact a fungal infection.

Some keepers recommend an over-the-counter sulphur treatment. I don't recommend this.

You are probably going to have to address the issues that are causing the problem. Diamondbacks live in basic and varying degrees of saline water naturally. We take them and put them in fresh water with high acidity and low salinity. Water in an outdoor pond will acummulate organic material which degrades, increasing acidity. Also, rainwater is typically more acidic. Your pond water will increase in acidity fairly rapidly overtime. But, you said that you do frequent water changes. My recommendation would be to monitor your water values regularly. Specific gravity can be useful in determining hardness.

I really hope that some people who keep Diamondbacks will share. I don't intimately know the benefits vs. cost of keeping Diamondbacks in freshwater. Also, I don't really know the pH, hardness, and such that you want to shoot for with this species.

Here's an excellent link for Diamondback care. There is a lengthy discussion of water quality and resulting infections thereof.
http://www.neoterrapin.com/care/

Good luck with your turtle...they're amazingly beautiful and intelligent.

Thanks for the help, I'll give it a try

Dry docking is the best way. A terrapin can easily go a day or two out of the water. This is normal during egg laying season. Also, anti-fungal medicine for fish can be used in the hour he is in BRACKISH water. Terrapins skin is delicate. Being born in captivity does not change the genetic composition of their skin. In nature, terrapins can sometimes even breath through their skin. The cure is to have a good filter, with extra ammonium reducing inserts, and a U-V filter is not a bad idea too. Salt goes a long way in repressing bacteria growth. Or you can try tanins. I will hibernate diamondbacks in stocktanks half filled with leaves. The decaying prodices tanins. I also, running some spagnum moss can help.

I've never seen red algae on a terrapin. Usually its a cheese-whitish yellow. Red markings can happen in the shell. I would dry dock it. And take bleach to its inclosure, wash it out, and let it set out and dry. It may take 2 weeks of dry docking to work.

If its septic (in the blood), it may require a vet. Think gang-green.