Red bellied turtle has a soft shell?

1. What does it mean when my turtle's shell is soft?
2. What do I do if my turtle's shell is soft?
3. Why is my turtles belly soft?
4. How do you treat a soft shelled red eared slider?
5. How do I give my turtle calcium?
6. Why is my turtle not moving?
7. Can a turtle shell repair itself?
8. Can turtles feel you pet their shell?
9. How much calcium does a turtle need?
10. What's wrong with my turtle's shell?
11. Why do baby turtles have soft shells?
12. What is the lifespan of a red-eared slider?
13. What is a good source of calcium for turtles?
14. What is a Cuttlebone for turtles?

What does it mean when my turtle's shell is soft?

If you notice your turtle's shell is soft, your turtle is likely unhealthy and needs attention right away. Most likely, your turtle's shell is soft because it has metabolic bone disease. ... Without calcium, turtles develop metabolic bone disease, leading to a soft shell.

What do I do if my turtle's shell is soft?

If the condition is not too advanced it can be corrected by increasing the Calcium and Vitamin D in the turtles diet. This can be done by adding a supplement to their diet. The other cause of a soft shell is shell rot which is usually caused by an infection, most commonly a bacterial infection.

Why is my turtles belly soft?

Keep in mind that a soft shell could be a sign of metabolic bone disease and shell rot. If it is not treated quick enough, it could become fatal. Some of the main causes of soft shell in turtles include calcium deficiency, unbalanced diet, poor lighting, and inadequate basking platforms.

How do you treat a soft shelled red eared slider?

I think soak the shell with a dilute betadine preparation for ten minutes, as picture below. I then scrub the shell with a surgeons hand brush and toothbrush to remove any left over flakes or debris, and finally rinse with fresh water. This process can be repeated in severe cases every few days.

How do I give my turtle calcium?

Like most reptiles, turtles require more dietary calcium than phosphorus. Most veterinarians recommend lightly sprinkling the vegetable matter offered to the box turtle with a calcium powder (calcium gluconate, lactate, or carbonate) 2-3 times per week.

Why is my turtle not moving?

The main reason your turtle is not moving is due to a lack of appetite, laziness, infections, discharge, respiratory illness and feces.

Can a turtle shell repair itself?

Since tortoise and turtle shells are made of living, organic, natural materials, they have the ability to heal on their own. Just as your broken arm will slowly knit itself back together, a tortoise shell can heal on its own.

Can turtles feel you pet their shell?

Turtles are unable to remove their shells because they are connected to it by their spine. Because of this, the spinal cords nerve endings run through the surface of the shell and give the turtle the ability to feel contact when something touches it. This goes for all species of turtles!

How much calcium does a turtle need?

Ideally, the calcium to phosphorus ratio in your turtle's diet should be somewhere between 1:1 to 2:1 (2 parts of calcium for every 1 part of phosphorus).

What's wrong with my turtle's shell?

Turtle shell problems can have many causes, from improper care to a poor diet to accidental injuries. Lack of calcium, a dirty environment, inadequate sunlight and excessive moisture can also cause irregularities in a turtle's shell.

Why do baby turtles have soft shells?

Its real name is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) and it is caused by poor diet and/or insufficient lighting. In order to stay alive, turtles require a certain amount of calcium in the bloodstream. ... In other words, the turtle's bones have softened, making the protein layer (shell) seem soft.

What is the lifespan of a red-eared slider?

Red-eared sliders can live a long life in captivity. When cared for correctly, they can easily live longer than 20 years.

What is a good source of calcium for turtles?

Feeding live fish can provide your turtle with the mental stimulation and exercise that comes with the challenge of chasing and catching its dinner. Fish also can be a good source of calcium for turtles, as long as they eat the entire fish, bones and all.

What is a Cuttlebone for turtles?

A cuttlebone for turtles is actually the internal skeleton of a cuttlefish (where its name comes from). ... However, they also work really great for aquatic species of turtles, as you can basically throw it into your tank and let it sit there.