Dry white shell?

[anth]

Hi I'm Anthony, attached is my three-toed hatchling named Halfie. I was wondering if I should do something about his shell? He doesn't seem to be sick, he eats well and I have fed him strawberries, mushrooms, pillbugs, worms, carrot, cantaloupe and spring mix and peices of super-worm thus far.

His shell has been this way since he came to live with us a few weeks ago, at first I though he was dehydrated but then I read about shell rot and wondered if this is it

thanks!

 

[anth]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OJMNQBjoR4g/T30kIwNEFdI/AAAAAAAAAEE/9ffJT5sbNBM/s320/IMG_

Here is a better picture....

 

[Yvonne G]

It just looks like hard water stains to me. What kind of substrate do you use, and is it moist?

 

[Jacob]

Yes, you can try rubbing small amounts of green olive oil, or a product called vitashell.

 

[anth]

I use what looks like coco peat on the warm end, there is a pile of Exo Terra Forest moss on the other and both are kept moist.

The dry appearance seems to disappear when he is misted or is soaking in his dish. I am replacing his coco peat today with peat moss, just for peace of mind in knowing exactly what he's burrowing in.

It just looks like hard water stains to me. What kind of substrate do you use, and is it moist?

 

[terryo]

I can't see the picture too clearly. Soak him a bit in warm water, then dry him off good, and it it's still there, put a little bit of Clotrimazole 1% on. If you do this for a few days, and it is shell rot, it will go away. For a hatchling this small, I wouldn't clean it with anything but warm water before applying the clotrimazole. This is an antifungal ointment used for athletes feet. Just put a small drop on if it's fungus. But as Yvonne said it just might be a hard water stain.

 

[anth]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I soaked him in some warm water, gently scrubbed his shell with a new soft children's toothbrush, dried him off good and saw that some of the white is coming off. I'll try some green olive oil next and if that doesn't help I'll get some Clotrimazole 1%. Thanks for all your help folks

 

[turtlemann2]

anybody else see that this little fella has 7 toes? thats got to be some kind of record!
hope he is looking better

 

[jojodesca]

anybody else see that this little fella has 7 toes? thats got to be some kind of record!
hope he is looking better

omg Scott!, I had to re-look at the pic...yeah that a deformity...wow...good catch!!!

 

[turtlemann2]

yeah i thought so! lol

 

[anth]

anybody else see that this little fella has 7 toes? thats got to be some kind of record!
hope he is looking better

Thanks Scott, he is looking better. I counted all his toes today, seven as you can see on his right hand, the rest four each .....does that mean he's not a TTBT?

 

[jojodesca]

anybody else see that this little fella has 7 toes? thats got to be some kind of record!
hope he is looking better

Thanks Scott, he is looking better. I counted all his toes today, seven as you can see on his right hand, the rest four each .....does that mean he's not a TTBT?

to be a ttbt the back feet should have 3 toes...the middle toe should have a longer nail....but the 7 toes on the front foot is a deformity...that's not common....kinda cool actually!...but maybe take a pic of the back feet and post on here for our feedback....

 

[Oogway]

anybody else see that this little fella has 7 toes? thats got to be some kind of record!
hope he is looking better

Hahahaha well spotted

 

[Tccarolina]

anybody else see that this little fella has 7 toes? thats got to be some kind of record!
hope he is looking better

Ha! Wow, how does that factor into the atypical point scoring?

Steve

 

[turtlemann2]

anybody else see that this little fella has 7 toes? thats got to be some kind of record!
hope he is looking better

Ha! Wow, how does that factor into the atypical point scoring?

Steve

Steve you make me smile! LOL im going to go 7x4 non typical three toed! Hahaha,

Ususally TTBT'S have three toes on their hind feet BUT i have two turtles one male and one female with Four toes on one hind foot each. So your hatchling is not a typical ttbt but you cant count him out, the only way to be sure is when his or her true colors come in, in a few years.

 

[anth]

anybody else see that this little fella has 7 toes? thats got to be some kind of record!
hope he is looking better

Thanks Scott, he is looking better. I counted all his toes today, seven as you can see on his right hand, the rest four each .....does that mean he's not a TTBT?

to be a ttbt the back feet should have 3 toes...the middle toe should have a longer nail....but the 7 toes on the front foot is a deformity...that's not common....kinda cool actually!...but maybe take a pic of the back feet and post on here for our feedback....

Hi Jojo Sorry this took me so long, here are a couple photos of his back feet. His shell is doing a lot better!

 

[jojodesca]

I actually do not think you have a three toed box turtle....you have an ornate box turtle..depending on its markings which have not come out yet. did they tell you it was a three toed and where did you get it from??

 

[lisa127]

I have an 8 month old three toed boxie that has 4 toes on each hind foot. We know he is a three toed because we know his parents!

 

[turtlemann2]

THESE ARE NOT MY PICTURES THEY BELONG TO PATMAN I IN NO WAY CLAIM THEY ARE MINE


Take a look at the top two ttbt hatchlings the one on the far right as well as the left
You could still very well have a THREE toed box turtle especially in comparison to the ornate hatchlings. It isnt all that uncommon that the three toe have four toes it is uncommon for seven
so only time will tell for sure but from these pics im sticking with a ttbt

---

here is a picture of a fresh ornate hatchling
http://www.arkive.org/ornate-box-turtle/terrapene-ornata/image-G28576.html

 

[terryo]

My Ornate had the same very distinctive markings from the time I got it at 3 months old, just like that little hatchling. They also have what looks like gray-ish skin around the neck and top of the front arms (paws?). I also have a TT now with 4 toes on each hind foot.