Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've recently bought my first RES. Recently it appears as if his skin is shedding. This would be all the areas of the neck, head, legs, and tail area. I'm new to RES and wanted to know is this normal. Thanks in advance for any info. Jason

How big is your turtle ? He could be just growing. When I first got mine, he was shedding like crazy until I bought a proper UV bulb for him to bask. It stopped, but then started again a little, and I figured this time through some reading that they will shed their skin a little bit while growing. Once Donatello stopped growing, for now atleast, he has stopped shedding. This is just in my experience, might want to wait and hear from someone else though. =)

Jawbone, I'm not a Herp Vet but I was just thinking this might be some kind of fungus, unless your res just woke up from hibernation. Therefore, you might want to re-check this and see if you don't have to give it a warm bath in some saline solution to get rid of this.

Your not a herp vet and really not one to be giving those strange suggestions! Don't confuse em that way

The other post was correct (the donatello one)... its perfectly fine. My RES's were also shedding when they were younger. Now they do it very less and its partly because of "stress". I read stuff about that when they stress they shed skin. It might have nothing to do with you (or maybe everything your doing!) but if your set-up is correct and your turtle is getting good food (and the water is clean) then just let time go by. Turltes go through these stages, it's perfectly normal. Get a good filter or change the water because that skin really gets annoying

Fusiongi,

I quite well know I'm not a "Herp Vet" which is what I said but nonetheless not willing to breach the subject other than the fact it's something after many years of catching and observing turtles that I've realized 'is a possibility of sorts,' that is a fungus, which is why turtles bask so much 'to rid themselves of all bacteria' including algae which this may or may not be but which I've seen growing on some snapping turtles' skins and even on younger hatchlings which of course too could be salmonella, the skin being where such bacteria is apt to grow and therefore I just happened to mention that I had a res once who woke up after hibernation covered with dead skin which was the only time I ever saw a turtle shedding its skin?! Believe it or not doesn't seem particularly "normal" to me so I just mentioned "dip it in a warm saline solution" which of course can't hurt it any way, right?!

Ask a vet.

Thanks for the info all. My RES is young his shell is 3 in. in length. I have a canister filter for biological filtration. I frequently do water changes. I have a UV-A and UV-B bulb that he basks under alot. His diet is varied and good. I did have the water temp at 80F but I heard they prefer low to mid 70s. So I have lowered his temp to 75F. He has been basking and eating well so hopefully hes just growing and this will pass. Once again thanks to all that responded to this post. Jason