Why is my red eared sliders shell cracking?
Why Do Turtles Shed Their Scutes? Healthy shedding occurs as part of a water turtle’s normal growth, as the shell expands with the rest of its growing body. Other common reasons for shell problems include bacteria, parasites, algae, environmental issues, and poor nutrition.
What happens if a turtle shell cracks?
A crack or break in a shell means the turtle’s or tortoise’s body is opened up. It’s like a crack in your fingernail or a gash in your skin. This is called “shell rot” and it can be deadly. Lack of calcium, not enough sunlight, and many diseases can cause shell abnormalities that can result in shell ulcers, too.
What kind of turtle is the red eared slider?
Red-eared slider. The red-eared slider ( Trachemys scripta elegans ), also known as the red-eared terrapin, is a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is a subspecies of the pond slider. It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States and is also popular as a pet in the rest of the world.
Are there any side effects to red eared sliders?
Reptiles are asymptomatic (meaning they suffer no adverse side effects) carriers of bacteria of the genus Salmonella. This has given rise to justifiable concerns given the many instances of infection of humans caused by the handling of turtles, which has led to restrictions in the sale of red-eared sliders in the USA.
Why does my red ear slider have too much water?
In short, if your red-eared slider is basking too much it’s either that your water temperature in the tank is too cold for him or he is feeling ill. Another cause is that your turtle might be gravid (pregnant).
Where do red eared sliders go in the winter?
Red-eared sliders do not hibernate, but actually brumate; while they become less active, they do occasionally rise to the surface for food or air. Brumation can occur to varying degrees. In the wild, red-eared sliders brumate over the winter at the bottoms of ponds or shallow lakes.
Where can I get a red eared slider?
A great resource is the book “Red-Eared Sliders” from the Animal Planet Pet Care Library, available through Amazon . Releasing a slider to a pond or lake isn’t an alternative.
In short, if your red-eared slider is basking too much it’s either that your water temperature in the tank is too cold for him or he is feeling ill. Another cause is that your turtle might be gravid (pregnant).
How to take care of a red eared slider turtle?
The red-eared slider turtle can look like an easy pet to take care of, and most pet shop sellers will probably suggest you to just place the turtle into a 10-gallon aquarium with a light source, give him some pellets, and their good to go.
What makes a red eared slider different from other turtles?
The primary differences in appearance are that of the red-eared slider’s red mark by its ear and lack of spotting on its plastron (belly shell). Although they’re, like all turtles, shy in the beginning, most red-eared sliders grow to become quite personable. They will happily greet you when you enter the room.
If you see scutes peeling or falling off from the bottom or edges of your turtle’s shell, don’t be surprised or worried as this is totally natural and healthy. You may notice that portions of the scutes seem to ‘lift-off’ up from the shell. This is normal. Whatever you do, don’t physically force them off.
