Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently acquired a Florida softshell turtle and it has several scratches on its shell. I do not want this scratches to get infected nor do I want to the turtle to get fungus. How would I go about treating this scratches? I was planning on using a topical anitbiotic and keeping the turtle isolated until they healed. I am also planning on keeping the turtle pretty much dry with an hour a day in the water to feed and excercise.

I had a slider develop fungus before and used the same sort of treatment to get rid of the fungus with the exception of betadine soaks. I am leary of using betadine ona softshell and I do not think the turtle needs something like that at this point.

Any other suggestions?

Valas

For scratches/abrasions leading to fungus on my softshells, I use a product called "Fungus Cure." I think it's manufactured by "Aquarium Pharmaceuticals" or some company name like that.

It comes in capsule form (8 or 10 capsules for around $3-$4 and packaged on a red card/box) and it's available at PetsMart, PetCo and lots of other aquarium/tropical fish shops. It's safe for mollies, swordtails and other tropical fish, and it's always done a quick job on fungus on my softshells.

DO NOT USE BETADYNE!! IT KILLS SOFTSHELLS FAST!!
I learned that lesson the hard way...
Good luck!!

Try nolvasan on the scratches. Or get a product with some acriflavin to add to the water.
keep the pH low maybe near 6.5
and i wouldn't dry dock him for so long.
sliders seem much more tolerant of it.
I go with four or five hours and then return him to water.