Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anyone out there can help me. I'm a new red slider owner and my turtle won't bask. Ever. I tried lowering the water temp a few degrees (normal temps are 78-80, I lowered it to 74-76) but he just stopped eating and still wouldn't bask.

I've made sure his basking platform is low enough for him to get up onto. Any ideas what else I can try?

Also, his upper shell isn't looking too hot. It looks like it's coming apart along some of the plating. His lower shell looks fine, though. Should I take him to a vet or has he been running into the sides of his aquarium too much?

I appreciate any help anyone can offer me. Thanks.

Take it to a vet ASAP the rewards far outweigh the risks. I once had a RES that had something strange like that going on with its shell. I did not get it to the vet in time and it turned out to be a major infection witch eventually cost the turtles life. The vet could also most likely shed light on why it wont bask
My reptile collection and research

First - what is the temperature of the basking area.

Next - what do you mean by the shell looks like it is coming apart? Can you possibly provide us with some pictures?

Let me describe my situation I am willing to bet it’s the same. My RES looked as though its shell was simply shedding. I ignored it as I thought it was normal. Well then I noticed it was shedding every day and new shell was not regenerating “Please excuse me for being so naive, I had this individual a long long time ago way before I was educated.” After taking to the vet I learned the vet was even stumped, She took pictures of it and sent it to “ forgive me if I am wrong” I believe it was UC Davis Veterinary something. Didn’t know UC Davis did this stuff. Anyway she got a call a few days later saying that the person viewed the pictures and they were just as stumped but it looked like some sort of bacterial infection. After I found I could do nothing for the individual I gave it to my sister in laws father who in turn put it in a large turtle pond in his back yard. A few weeks later I got work that he found only the shell in the dirt. I am by no means a vet nor have I ever studied veterinary medicine but I have observed my share of ailments and I am willing to bet it is related in some way.
My reptile collection and research

Hhhmmm...this sounds a bit like what my turtle's shell is doing. It's like the first shell "layer" has come off in certian parts. Along the spinal ridge the plating is jagged and unattached in a few places. The edge of his shell is also chipped in two places though I'm less concerned about that. I'm going to try to put up pictures and measure the temp of the basking area. Time is of the essence though. If I need to get him to a vet I want to do it ASAP before it gets worse.

It may just be shedding or it could be baterial shellrot (which is what Jasonw was describing).

Put the picture up but definitely -- it is best to get the animal to a vet and be safe rather than sorry. If it is shellrot the course of treatment would depend upon the severity of the condition. If it is topical and localized just general treatment of the affected areas would be what the vet would prescribe -- if it is deeper and possibly systemic then the vet would most likely recommend a course of antibiotics along with the topical treatment.

This isn't the best picture, but the turtle wouldn't stay still so I had to resort to a flash.

If you look carefully, you can see the white patches where the shell is "coming apart" at the seams as I described. Try to ignore the light glare off the shell. If a better picture is needed, I can try again.

I tried to measure the basking area temp but I could never get a reading above 70 and I KNOW it's warmer than that just by feeling under there. If I had to estimate, I would say it's about 95 degrees or somethere in that ballpark. Too warm? Too cold? Thanks for all your help!