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... Scutes? That is the shell part that is the belly right? Okay, I was reading some archives. Someone asked about peeling scutes. I've seen on the belly of Mike that he has areas that seem to be areas that could be pulled off (I am not peeling or picking, just observed) and figured it must be normal. I've seen similar areas on his top shell on his side shell toward the edge. The tips are shiny (slightly translucent) and have tiny scale looking areas. Is this just a sign that he is growing? It really doesn't look like something to worry about (I'm obsessive so tend to worry a lot). His coloring seems to be very bright and he always seems to be extremely alert.

Oh, and do Turtles like their chins rubbed? Mike seemed to stick his head out and extend it for me to rub (gently of course) but I'm not sure if he did that because he was trying to find an escape or if he enjoyed it.

Also, how well do Turtles see? Mike seems to be able to see quite well, even recognizes his tank from across the room. They must have very good eyesight and memories.

The scutes are all the little divisions you see on Mike's shell top and bottom. Yes the peeling is normal. If they are lift and start to come off but don't shed off please let us know here. They should just shed normally though.

As far as the chin scratching -- Mike is probably just swimming up to you excitedly looking for food. If it feels good to him to has his chin scrated he certainly will let you.

Can't answer regarding eyesight but memory -- well mostly they get conditioned to respond a certain way. Funny though -- the more I observe them the more they seem to show that there is "something" going on in that beedy little brain other than operate conditioning. Until we can speak turtle -- I guess we will never really know.

I figured the peeling is normal but thought I would ask. For some reason, some of the care information I've found never mentions it.

I was actually rubbing his chin while examing him out of the water. I was trying to figure out a way to get him to bring his head out to I could look at it and he start extending his head when I was rubbing his chin. Still don't know how to deliberately get him to open his mouth (just accidentally a few times when he's startled).

He certainly gets excited at feeding time. When I get home from work, the first thing I do is make sure he's okay. He looks at me expectantly and starts following my movements. I think its adorable the way he likes to stalk fish. I picked up 12 fish last week. He's got 3 left. He REALLY gets worked up when there are new fish in the tank. He seems to know that they are new.

>>The scutes are all the little divisions you see on Mike's shell top and bottom. Yes the peeling is normal. If they are lift and start to come off but don't shed off please let us know here. They should just shed normally though.
>>
>>As far as the chin scratching -- Mike is probably just swimming up to you excitedly looking for food. If it feels good to him to has his chin scrated he certainly will let you.
>>
>>Can't answer regarding eyesight but memory -- well mostly they get conditioned to respond a certain way. Funny though -- the more I observe them the more they seem to show that there is "something" going on in that beedy little brain other than operate conditioning. Until we can speak turtle -- I guess we will never really know.