Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My friend recently aquired a RES from a petstore. The turtle's shell is about 6 inches long. It acts healthy. It seemed to like eating and wasn't lethargic at all. The problem is that almost its entire back is covered in this white growth. Its kind of hard to describe, almost like someone painted its back. What is it and how does my friend get rid of it? The RES was in pretty poor shape at the petstore, it had 3 inches of water and no basking spot or UV light. There isn't any vet within several hours drive that specializes in reptiles, so that isn't really an option.

Thanks
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Scott,

Thanks for your help in advance, I have read that it could be calcium deposits, or shell rot, a whole list of things, I thought I would ask the people that really know. Like TanMuscles said I purchased him from a pet store that was keeping him in a very small kritter keeper in two inches of water, no way to get completely dry, no basking light. I thought that maybe I could give him a better life. It is white in appearance, pitted in some places, and he now lives in a clean cage with basking lights, 80 degree water, and a balanced diet. Thanks again!

The Picture if It Doesnt Show up here

I would call that shell rot. When I rescued one of my turtles from an aquaintance who took notoriously poor care of him, he had similar shell issues...not the coloration that yours had, but similar pitting. The most important thing for his road to recovery is that you have him in the proper home that he needed and deserved. So, that part is already done! Proper heat, and basking work wonders. Just remember though that shell issues like that are a long term recovery process. I have had him for two years now, and much of his pitting has healed with the new shell growth from underneath. But there is still a bit left that will take more time yet to heal.

There are several opinions out there regarding possible treatment of shell rot. People here on the forum have advocated the following options: 1. Go natural, not use any kind of topical agent. Let it heal with proper living conditions and normal basking. 2. Use a topical Betadine solution a few times a day followed by a few hours of dry docking each time to disinfect the shell and keep it clean 3. Go almost complete dry dock and only provide a few hours in water per day so they don't dehydrate.

My recommendation is that you do not use option 3...given the extent of the pitting he would be dry docked for a long, long time and that just doesn't sound reasonable. The most important thing is that he can now bask and get dry, and that his water stays very clean. Do some reading up on different ways to treat shell rot and decide which will be best for you and your turtle. Good for you for helping this turtle and best of luck!