Shedding Shell!!!

[alice199016]

I have a yellow bellied Terrapin and as i was letting him wander around the living room this evening i saw that his shell was peeling off! not just a little flake but a side of his panel has started to come up on two of the front panels!! i dont know if this is jst him shedding his shell to grow bigger or he has shell rot or something else!

I rang the vet but there wasnt anyone in so until then can anyone give me advice as to what you think it might be?

is it natural or is he ill!??

[Jczreptiles]

Originally Posted by alice199016

I have a yellow bellied Terrapin and as i was letting him wander around the living room this evening i saw that his shell was peeling off! not just a little flake but a side of his panel has started to come up on two of the front panels!! i dont know if this is jst him shedding his shell to grow bigger or he has shell rot or something else!

I rang the vet but there wasnt anyone in so until then can anyone give me advice as to what you think it might be?

is it natural or is he ill!??

I had this with ine and I was told that it was either due to not having enough UV or from the temps been too high at the basking spot. I don't think it is harmfull though.

[alice199016]

thankyou! did it get better? did it just fall off or did u take it to the vets.

[Jczreptiles]

It was just flaking and eventialy totaly came off, It looked like it was begining to grow back but I gave them away so I am not sure if it did or even if it is possible. I would personaly not go to a vet, al they will probably do is give you husbandry advice rather than treatment which you can get on here for free Also from someone with more experience than me

[alice199016]

thankyou

[SteveCourty]

Hello, we have one that was very poorly when we got her, all her scutes are currently peeling off to reveal a nice shell underneath. In her old home she didnt have any UV lighting or anywhere to escape from the water hence her poor shape. I believe they also shed these for growing but dont quote me on that ... it's perfectly healthy, leave it a few days and see what the shell is like underneath before you shell out on vets bills etc ... if she is new it may well be her adjusting to her new home ... there skin also sheds and it looks like snot, DONT PEAL IT!

[Stephen P]

Terrapins are not meant to wander around the living room. They are aquatic. There are many dangers in a room plus germs etc.

[mariekni]

the shedding is perfectly normal. they shed as part of growth.
the things that worries me the most is that you have your turtle running around the living room floor!!!! the water is the safty net and although the turtle may look like its enjoying itself it really isnt! the turtle should not be taken away from the safty of its water so i would suggest leaving it in its tank.

[alice199016]

thanks so much guys!! will take that really seriously! never really got told that they cant wander round so thankyou! i'll give it a few more days to see what happens to the shell much appreciated

[annsimpson1]

a turtle will never go far from water as water is its only defense, they will come out to bask but thats all