Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i noticed that whenever i got my first turtle (the bigger one in the picture)... his shell was a bit curled at the edges. My friend told me this was because of some vitamin deficiency in the turtle, but i dont see how this is possible because i feed my turtles a variety of foods and i take them in the sun almost everyday whenever it's warm outside, and they have a uvb light in their tank when i cant take them outside! i also feed them pieces of calcium to help their shell. my second turtle never developed this curling of the edge of the shell, it has just been my first turtle. please tell me what kind of deficiency this is... if it is a deficiency, and how i can treat it or fix it? thanks in advance for any responses...

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~ Evie

Pets:
German Shephard {Dusty}
German Shephard/Collie mix {Shadoe}
2 RES turtles {Booger and Snot}
African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
Snail {Gary}

It isn't really a deficiency, it is from overfeeding of protein. If you switch to a diet high in greens and low in protein, feed him reptomin or protein only every few days his shell should improve, but it will take years and will never be perfect.
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Did this turtle come to you in this condition already or did it develop while you had it? It can be MBD. Most likely too much protein in the diet. Keep the calcium up and do not overfeed. Also keep up your regimine. The little one looks fantastic. The other one is not in that bad a shape and if you and may correct a bit in his shape as he grows more.

the bigger turtle came to me in this shape... it hasnt decreased as of yet... i guess it takes awhile for that kind of thing to improve, if it ever will! i feel bad for him.... can this hurt his health in any way? i have been feeding him reptomin only about every other day... and i feed him fruits and vegetables the other times, just as the little one! at first i thought maybe it was just a difference in the sexes or something... but didnt see any pictures like this one! hopefully his improed "diet" will help his shell straighten out! Thanks for all of your advice...
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~ Evie

Pets:
German Shephard {Dusty}
German Shephard/Collie mix {Shadoe}
2 RES turtles {Booger and Snot}
African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
Snail {Gary}

My baby Angel is curling(my other one just a little) but I got advice and got a better UVB and started more greens in their diet, they're(2 babies) nuts over red leaf lettuce. I thought I had everything they need, the old UV light wasn't strong enough. BUt I improved their tank awhole lot.
So hopefully this will help them both avoid any curling.