Yellow Belly Slider shedding or shell rot?

[mfrederick]

I’m new to the turtle world, thanks to my toddler finding this one in a swimming pool and not willing to let it go. We have had it going a little over a month now. Very active, not a big fan of the pellet food but we found she likes the frozen cubed foods and blood worms and seems to have a healthy appetite. Has gotten very personable and comes up to look at you if you come to watch it in the tank. I have been keeping a close eye on the shell and have been trying to google for info because definitely looks different than when we first took it in. What better place to check than a turtle forum. Is this shell shedding? Is this what it looks like? How often will the shell shed? Or is this signs of shell rot? Pictures attached sorry some of them are blurry.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

I’m new to the turtle world, thanks to my toddler finding this one in a swimming pool and not willing to let it go. We have had it going a little over a month now. Very active, not a big fan of the pellet food but we found she likes the frozen cubed foods and blood worms and seems to have a healthy appetite. Has gotten very personable and comes up to look at you if you come to watch it in the tank. I have been keeping a close eye on the shell and have been trying to google for info because definitely looks different than when we first took it in. What better place to check than a turtle forum. Is this shell shedding? Is this what it looks like? How often will the shell shed? Or is this signs of shell rot? Pictures attached sorry some of them are blurry.

I believe what you have there is a River Cooter. The gaps between the scutes you see is just new growth. I don't see anything concerning.

 

[mfrederick]

Thank you and here we thought it was a yellow belly this whole time. Now to go research how to care properly for a River Cooter. Do you know how to tell if it is male or female? Or is it still too young to tell.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Thank you and here we thought it was a yellow belly this whole time. Now to go research how to care properly for a River Cooter. Do you know how to tell if it is male or female? Or is it still too young to tell.

Too young to tell. Your should be able to tell at about a year or two. Care for a Cooter vs Slider is basically the same.

 

[mfrederick]

Thank so much! I really appreciate it!