Pig nose turtle/Fly river turtle shell help

[Jocelyn95]

Hi everyone, started noticing my pig nose turtle having this on its shell. Recent changes would be temperature, we live in a tropical country but it’s rainy season, and we forgot to turn on the heater which was usually on due to needing to use the switch, just these 2 days. We have now switched the heater back on. Does anyone know what this is and what we should do? Should we be worried?

 

[Yvonne G]

It looks like he scraped it on a rough surface.

 

[zovick]

Hi everyone, started noticing my pig nose turtle having this on its shell. Recent changes would be temperature, we live in a tropical country but it’s rainy season, and we forgot to turn on the heater which was usually on due to needing to use the switch, just these 2 days. We have now switched the heater back on. Does anyone know what this is and what we should do? Should we be worried? View attachment 397720

It looks like either a scrape to the shell or a fungal infection or maybe a combination of both. Sometimes adding salt to the water for a while will help kill off such infections. Add 1 tablespoon salt per three gallons (11.4 L) of water.

Personally, I would change out the current water first, then replace it with new water with the salt added. Do this each time you add new salt or you will inadvertently increase the salt concentration. About ten days or so of exposure to the salt water should be sufficient.

 

[Jocelyn95]

It looks like he scraped it on a rough surface.

His tank is totally empty. Just him in a big tank. there is a pvc pipe where the filtered water flows out though.

 

[Jocelyn95]

It looks like either a scrape to the shell or a fungal infection or maybe a combination of both. Sometimes adding salt to the water for a while will help kill off such infections. Add 1 tablespoon salt per three gallons (11.4 L) of water.

Personally, I would change out the current water first, then replace it with new water with the salt added. Do this each time you add new salt or you will inadvertently increase the salt concentration. About ten days or so of exposure to the salt water should be sufficient.

I will definitely change the water and try a salt bath. Will the salt affect him in any way? Since he’s been in normal water all his life.

 

[EppsDynasty]

I will definitely change the water and try a salt bath. Will the salt affect him in any way? Since he’s been in normal water all his life.

use the exact amount you were told by @zovick
What you are doing is creating an environment that infection won't survive in BUT is safe for your turtle. If you over salt the water then you will cause serious issues.

 

[Jocelyn95]

use the exact amount you were told by @zovick
What you are doing is creating an environment that infection won't survive in BUT is safe for your turtle. If you over salt the water then you will cause serious issues.

How long should I do that for? And can I run it as a separate bath and put the turtle in it for N amount of time? Because if I put it in the large tank it’s hard to control the circumstances with the filters under tanks and everything.

 

[EppsDynasty]

How long should I do that for? And can I run it as a separate bath and put the turtle in it for N amount of time? Because if I put it in the large tank it’s hard to control the circumstances with the filters under tanks and everything.

YES .... you can create a 'treatment tank' to accomplish this BUT you need to realize that the filters and everything in the tank needs the salt to be disinfected. If you do not treat the tank itself you are possibly just putting the treated turtle back into water with issues.
I am not a fan of using salt without measuring the parameters of the water but that's just me. You can keep an eye on the affected area and do the salt in 3-4 days if it looks worse. Not sure on 'HOW' long you should be trying to keep him in salt water.....I would imagine 1 week then replace all the water.

 

[Jocelyn95]

YES .... you can create a 'treatment tank' to accomplish this BUT you need to realize that the filters and everything in the tank needs the salt to be disinfected. If you do not treat the tank itself you are possibly just putting the treated turtle back into water with issues.
I am not a fan of using salt without measuring the parameters of the water but that's just me. You can keep an eye on the affected area and do the salt in 3-4 days if it looks worse. Not sure on 'HOW' long you should be trying to keep him in salt water.....I would imagine 1 week then replace all the water.

Because I am not sure how large is the tank, how much water it holds (we just fill it using a water pipe). So can I do a treatment tank (for how long per day may I ask?) remove the turtle, put approximate salt in the empty tank let it run, then change all the filter media (the sponges), fresh change of water, put the turtle back?

 

[zovick]

Because I am not sure how large is the tank, how much water it holds (we just fill it using a water pipe). So can I do a treatment tank (for how long per day may I ask?) remove the turtle, put approximate salt in the empty tank let it run, then change all the filter media (the sponges), fresh change of water, put the turtle back?

As mentioned by @EppsDynasty above, if you don't treat the tank the tortoise is normally kept in, there is really no point in bothering with the salt bath. You are just putting the turtle back into a tank with the same organism(s) that may be infecting it. IE, you are defeating the purpose of the salt water bath.

 

[Jocelyn95]

As mentioned by @EppsDynasty above, if you don't treat the tank the tortoise is normally kept in, there is really no point in bothering with the salt bath. You are just putting the turtle back into a tank with the same organism(s) that may be infecting it. IE, you are defeating the purpose of the salt water bath.

Oh I am treating the tank. Just that because I am unsure of the volume of water in the tank, can I just put salt (that’s possibly more than the required amount) and let the tank run without the turtle in it. Turtle is treated in the correct salt amount salt bath aside. Then after treating the big tank, replace all the water, and sponge filter media, put fresh water, put turtle back in.

 

[EppsDynasty]

That will work