I have looked after 2 terrapins for my sister for nearly 6 years. One is believed to be male and the other female, both have been very very healthy throughout, they have had a very small basking area and mostly water in their tank, and I have fed them on dried food which you get from the pet store. Recently I have moved home, and one of the Terrapins shells has started to look a little strange, the first sign was the back corner of the shell was starting to "curl" upwards slightly, I have pulled her out of the tank to inspect, and although the shell is firm and hard everywhere else, the "curled" up area moves up and down slightly with a little force, after viewing the tank setup I noticed that one of the alignments of the rocks had moved to an angle, and she liked to bask there, her shell touched the rock in that area and has done for around a year, is it possible that this could disfigure her shell slightly by her "leaning" on this angled rock? needless to say I have moved it right away. Any advice on this appreciated, she seems to be in no discomfort at all, and eating fine.
The second problem is (with the same Terrapin) she has developed some little cream/yellow colored areas on her shell (it looks like rust but lighter) also on the upper central area one of these areas looks like a little groove (not deep). Could it be the change in water causing this? they are otherwise eating fine and as active as ever. I have been told by neighbours that there is a lot of Iron in the water at my new home, is there something I can do to the water to "clean" it out of iron, or will this Iron not cause the problem? I presumed it could as it's only been visible since we moved home. I have read that with her symptoms I can treat her myself by cleaning her shell with a Toothbrush, and using General antiseptic on her shell in affected areas whilst giving her plenty of "dry" time as air is Shell rots enemy, is this corrent, all advice very appreciated.
The second problem is (with the same Terrapin) she has developed some little cream/yellow colored areas on her shell (it looks like rust but lighter) also on the upper central area one of these areas looks like a little groove (not deep). Could it be the change in water causing this? they are otherwise eating fine and as active as ever. I have been told by neighbours that there is a lot of Iron in the water at my new home, is there something I can do to the water to "clean" it out of iron, or will this Iron not cause the problem? I presumed it could as it's only been visible since we moved home. I have read that with her symptoms I can treat her myself by cleaning her shell with a Toothbrush, and using General antiseptic on her shell in affected areas whilst giving her plenty of "dry" time as air is Shell rots enemy, is this corrent, all advice very appreciated.