Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Some of you will remember my post not too far down asking about the white spots on my hatchling's shells. I got some pictures for you to look as and hopefully they'll help.

All four of my hatchlings.

This is the hatchling with the most spots.

This is the hatchling I mentioned earlier that I found seperately from the other three (definately from another turtle, not mine, no idea where this one came from). You can see the start of one of those spots on his marginal scute on his right and if you look closely on the coastal scutes on his right twoards the back.

Comparison of the worse one and the one I found seperate (the one hatchling with markings on its scutes).

Thanks a lot. I hope these will help us to figure out what these are.

To me the white patch looks like it could be shell rot. Especially if it is spreading. It is contagious and can be caused by bacterial or fungal infection or both. Please tell us how you are keeping them. THeir substrate what is it?

You need to get a Nolvasan solution AKA Chlorhexadine or Chlorhexadins glutinate. I buy Chlorhexadine glutinate under the brand name Derma Care at PetSmart for about $10.00. Take a sterile soft toothbrush and gently scrub the top and bottom of the shell. Apply solution to entire carapice and plastron. Don't get any in thier eyes though. Let it dry and repeat. Do this 2 to 3 times a day. Keep them on paper towels and keep their habitat meticulously clean. I would clean teh setup with chlorhexadine while you have them soaking in clean water. You'll need to keep a small thing of water in their setup so they can get all the water they need. Kepp it super clean.
I have only done this for adults, I would want to take extra care with a hatchling and you might want to wait to see what others post with more hatchling experience.

Please post info about how you are keeping them as that may help identify why they are having this problem.
What are the temps? lighting? substrate? container/setup?

These guys are in a 15 gallon aqaurium that is kept at 60-80% humidity. Cage is misted 2 to 3 times a day. The substrate is spagnun moss. These have a water dish they can easily get into. They have a UVB bulb and a 25 watt bulb for heat in one area of the tank. I have a pie plate on one side of the tank with a little water in it with spagnum moss to offer a little more humidity. There is a hide on that side and underneath the 25 watt bulb. I have a plant in there for aesthitic reasons. The substrate in about 2 to 3 inches deep. They are spending a lot more time above ground than they used to, which is nice. Let me know if you have any other questions.

They had this when they emerged from outside, but it has since gotten worse.

They brought the microbs in with them then and they are still in the substrate. I'm not being critical, I'm just trying to help you get rid of this and make sure it won't come back.

All it would take is for one to get a scratch, even a minor one, to allow any microbs to take hold and start an infection in a hatchlings shell because they are so delicate.

You will have to throw out the old substrate as the microbs, be they bacterial or fungal, are in the substrate and will only cause them to be reinfected.

You need a bigger setup for the four of them. You need to keep them dry until the problem clears up and allow plenty of air to get to the spots. Make sure they have a super clean water dish so they can soak if they need it, and change the water as soon as it gets dirty. If you use the Chlorhexadine you will see improvement in just a few days. You'll have to treat the spots with the solution until they are gone and then for a few days afterwards to make sure before you can put them back in a moss set up. Keep them on papertowels and put in shredded papertowels for them to "dig" into to hide.

How do the plastrons, bottom shells, look? Are there any spots there as well?

What temp do you have these guys at?

There are spots on the plastron, too. They also look kind of wrinkly/ not smooth like the carapace. Are their plastron suppose to give when you push on them? The temperatures in the tank range from 75 to 85 degrees. I'll move them to paper towels. Do I keep the paper towels completely dry? Thanks

I would keep them on dry paper towels as long as they have access to a soaking dish that they can get in and out of easily with clean water. Make sure you change the water often and wipe it out after rinsing it with some chlorhexadine too. Hopefully you'll only have to do this a week or two.

Make sure you treat the plastrons too. Take a q-tip and make sure you get it on the insides of the shell as well so that you kill all of the microbes. How old are these hatchlings, or how long have you had them.

I think that it is somewhat normal for the hatchlings shells to give somewhat as they haven't hardened yet, but if you think it is too soft increase the calcium. Make sure it has D3. They need the vitamin D3 to properly absorb the calcium. The powdered stuff sticks to earthworms really well.