Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone, recently I noticed a white spot on my turtle's shell and was wondering what it might be. My biggest fear is that it may be shell rot but I am not sure. The pictures were taken yesterday but today I scraped a bit of shell off and saw some more white stuff. The white stuff is hard and does not come off, I can see a bit of pink in there as well. I have had the turtle (a red eared slider) for 14 years, he has a heat lamp, filter and all the other things a turtle needs. He is acting and eating normal and the rest of his shell is fine...no red on the underside. His eyes are also clear and ok. Please help and thanks in advance.

Another picture

It appears that your turtle may have had some shell rot that has healed. If it is not overly red in color or spreading and the area is not soft, spongy and possibly malodorous it looks like it may have run it's course. Just keep an eye on it and make sure it does not continue or that there are no read streaks coming from the area.

Otherwise looks like a healthy GIRL. (i noticed you called it a HE but it is definitely a girl).

Steve

Getting over shell rot? I never noticed it before now and it seems that normal shell is coming off and revealing the white stuff. I hope your right, that would be great. My turtle is living better then it ever did when I was younger, when I first got him he had no filter or light (I was in 3rd grade) and survived all that time without ever getting a disease.

Oh yeah? Why do you say its a she? I have always called it a him because of his long claws. He also has a habit of holding his hands out in front of his face and wiggling his finger at the glass. Here are his claws...sorry for the blury shot.

Just because of his/he size. males generally don't grow that large. Do you have a picture of his claws.

Sometimes shellrot can be missed sometimes. You can see the end result when it starts healing and the dead area starts to slough off.

Here is a picture of his claws...I thought I already posted it but in case I did not here it is again.

OOPS my bad. You did post that picture but it was sooo blurry I thought it was the tail actually. LOL!!! Yes, I am sorry you do indeed have a BOY.. One of the biggest male sliders I have ever seen but from those very long claws (now that I can make them out.) You do have a boy.

He really is a beauty.

Can't give a definitive diagnosis from tne picture, but many white spots on slider shells are caused by calcium deposits from water that accumulates between unshed scutes. They are not shed, but they are loose enough for water to get under them and mineral deposits to build up when the turtle basks and dries out.

....and it doesn't look like typical mineral deposits. Recent shell rot would be through the outer scutes, so it may be resolved, as mentioned above.