Chinese soft shell - hole in shell help!!! :(

[Shivers78]

Hi There,

I have a soft shell turt. He burnt himself on his heater which he went to the vets about and I've been treating it and it seems to be getting alot better.
However I noticed yesterday that he has now got a gapping hole in his shell! It's about a match stick size. I am so upset. He is really happy in himself and is swimming about but this hole is horrible.
I am taking him to the vets first thing (just called them and they said I have to wait!)
When he eats his food it's even coming back out of the hole I'm quite shocked and I guess what I want to know is - is he going to survive?
Thanks

[angela__k__84]

I suspect he will be fine over night as long as your water is clean.
Your best bet really is to have the vet take a look at him but there are a lot of knowledgeable people on here so if you could post a picture you might get some feedback.
I'm not sure what you mean about food coming out....is the hole through to his belly? I wouldn't feed him until you've seen the vet.
How long has he been like this? Has it suddenly occured?

[felix93]

I don't know the answer, but with most turtles if they are poorly, usually they tend to bask a lot and I read that you have to take the turtle out of the water. But with Softies, it might be impossible because they are bury species and they don't even surface and bask on the turtle dock.

Have you got any substrate in the tank? Mine has sand, so if you do, I think the best is to take all the substrate out, keep the water as clean as you can overnight until tomorrow when you go to the vet.

Don't worry if he is eating and still lively, that probably means it doesn't affect him atm. I don't know if this is possible as I haven't tried it myself on the Softshell but other species. I use bandages to wrap around the shell to keep the wound clean. But I don't know if this can stress yours out or not because some turtles just don't like being messed around.

Hope your softie will be better soon.

[Shivers78]

The hole is to the top of his shell and mealworms are coming back out! It's really upsetting.
I'll try attach a picture. I can't see how to do it though.....
I though it was like a blue dot but it's actually a hole.
He is quite difficult to look after and I'd like to rehome him once he is better as it's not fair of me to neglect him

Thanks

[James_T]

Is he still in with your RES?

[Shivers78]

You're right he does just bury and not bask.......very tricky but I'm scared the sand will go into the hole and block him up. I'm confused though as to how the food is coming back out when I thought it would go into a tummy sack or something.
Thanks for your help. I'll keep you all posted.

[Shivers78]

Hey James T!!!!!!
No he hasn't been with Michska for months and months. He's just so so hard to look after if I'm honest and I haven't kept a close enough eye on him

[felix93]

Hope you get hims sorted. DO NOT put softie with other species. They don't get on. Softies like to be kept on their own.

If it doesn't bother him right now, leave him for the night until you see the vet tomorrow. Surely he will get sorted by your vet tomorrow. I know vet can just "glue" the shell back with some sort of glue. I have seen my herp vet did that in the past.

[Shivers78]

I know. He's been alone for a long time now since my other attacked him. I didn't know they couldn't live together
I doubt they can glue him as his shell is soft. Gosh I'm so worried. It's making me feel a bit dizzy when the worms pop out of his back! It's so strange.
Poor little man.

[felix93]

Your others attacked him? Usually it's the other way round. Just looking at your sig, 4 years old softie is quite a biggen already.

The shell might be softer than others, but if you really feel the shell, it's still hard if you know what I mean. If it's only a small tiny hole, I think the vet can put something on top and mend it with "superglue", yes it's called superglue but probably it's not the same as what you can get from Tesco.

If you are worrying tonight, take him out, put a little plaster on the hole, make sure it's dry first, it won't kill and you know the substrate aka sand won't get into the hole. Only just 9 or 10 hours to go and you get to see the vet, nothing will go wrong atm.