Vitamin Deficiency

If your turtle has a lack of UVB light it will be unable to absorb a sufficient amount of calcium. This can lead to softened and even deformed bones. Ensure that your turtle always has an ample supply of UVB rays either from direct sunlight or a UVB light. The turtles shell is made out of bone and since the shell is a vital part of their body, calcium is extremely important to them.

Vitamin deficiencies can also occur when a turtle does not have a balanced diet. Each turtle has its own diet requirements which should be monitored and adjusted as needed. Nutritional deficiencies can often result in vitamin deficiencies.

Visit our turtle care sheets for more specific information regarding your turtle. These care sheets provide detailed feeding information about what foods to use as the staple in your turtles diet, what foods to feed in moderation and what foods to avoid. Providing your turtle with a proper diet will virtually eliminate the possibility of vitamin deficiencies.

Swollen Eyes

Infections are the most common cause of swollen eyes in your turtle. A lack of Vitamin A is usually to blame. Without the proper intake of Vitamin A your turtle will be very susceptible to infections caused by bacteria. The immune system of turtles relies heavily upon Vitamin A, and this may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency.

If you catch the condition early enough providing your turtle with an increase in Vitamin A can usually cause the swelling to subside. Be careful not to give your turtle too much Vitamin A to try to combat the illness because too many vitamins are not a good thing either. Turtles and reptiles in general are very sensitive to sudden changes in their diet.

If after a week or so the condition has not improved a trip to the veternarian should be scheduled for further action. The reasoning for taking your turtle to the veterinarian is that it may be something more serious than simply a lack of Vitamin A.

Swollen Ears

Respiratory problems are most often the cause of swollen ears in turtles. Slightly swollen ears on their own are usually nothing to be concerned about. It is the underlying condition that caused this problem that you will need to worry about.

If this is left untreated the ears will likely continue to swell. When this happens the ear canal of the turtle may need to be surgically opened to facilitate removal of the pus which will have accumulated in the ear. Antibiotics are then provided to cure the respiratory infection or disease. The recovery time for this procedure can be quite lengthy. Water turtles will have the most trouble because you will likely need to keep them out of the water while the initial healing is in progress. Obviously it is much easier to catch this early on and provide treatment for your turtle than it is to put your turtle through surgery.

The swollen ears of the turtle are probably the least of your concerns as it is generally a sign of something larger, and the devastating nature of respiratory infections require the turtle to be looked at immediately

Skin Shedding in Turtles

Skin shedding on a healthy turtle is nothing to be concerned with, as long as the skin that is shedding does not appear to be thick or dark in color there is probably not a problem. Another area to look at on your turtle is the color of its skin. If it appears to be red or irritated your turtle may have a problem.

Most reptiles shed their skin all at once and then do not shed for some time. Turtles are constantly shedding their skin but do so in small bits at a time. If your turtle or tortoise does not have any water in its enclosure you may not even notice it shedding at all. If you have an aquatic turtle you will most likely see small bits of dead skin floating on the surface of the water.

The most common cause for prolonged or excessive shedding is a fungus infection. Although there are some treatment options available that you can perform (such as soaking the turtle in an iodine solution twice daily) it is highly advisable to take your turtle to a veterinarian. In the mean time you should remove the turtle from the water as much as possible and keep it dry, especially at night when you cannot monitor its activities. You can do this by moving the turtle to a second habitat during the night.

Severed Limbs

If your turtle has had a limb severed due to an injury there is not much that you can do besides allow it to heal. Usually the turtle will be able to heal effectively on its own, just ensure that the area is clean. Any part that is unable to heal due to the severity of the injury will likely shirvle up and fall off.

Turtles do not have the ability to regrow their body parts unlike some other animals. For example, some lizards can actually regrow their tail if it has been severed.

The most important thing that you can do is provide it with a clean and cool place for the first few days to allow it to rest and begin to heal. Infections are very common with severed limbs so keep the wound clean at all times. The turtle will most likely be feeling a great deal of stress after this kind of an injury so be sure to handle it only when necessary. You will need to monitor its activities very closely over the next few days to ensure it is handling the situation alright.

In the future the turtle will need to adapt to the loss of one or more of its limbs. Aquatic turtles will have the most difficulty as they may have trouble swimming with one less leg. In these cases you may need to make the water shallower to ensure that it does not drown.

If the injury worsens it will be necessary to take your turtle to a veternarian. The veterinarian can properly dress the wound and give you advice as to how you can ensure a smooth and swift recovery.

Respiratory Disease

If your turtle appears to have trouble breathing this is a definite sign of a respiratory disease. The turtle may appear be opening its mouth wider than normal when it is breathing. This happens because the turtle is having trouble getting a sufficient intake of air. Swollen ears, swollen eyes and a runny nose are also all signs of a respiratory infection.

Ensuring a warm habitat can help to avoid these situations occuring again in the future. If the habitat is already warm enough your turtle should be taken to a veterinarian to determine the cause and make suggestions for recuperation.

Since respiratory dieseases are highly contagious amongst turtles it is important to catch signs of this disease early on to limit the spread of infection. Respiratory diseases form from both viral and bacterial infections.

This disease causes particular damage to Ornate Box Turtles but obviously can negatively affect turtles of all kinds. No matter what type of turtle you have you will want to have their respiratory issues taken care of immediately. A trained veterinarian can assist you in doing this and provide the appropriate medication if necessary. Occasionally when the disease gets bad enough surgery is required to save the turtle.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Nutritional Deficiencies in turtles can be very harmful and are caused by not eating properly and receiving an inadequate supply of vitamins. It will cause your turtle to become not only physically weak but also weak at resisting other diseases. Parasites and bacteria take advantage of this and will make a home in your turtle. If this condition is prolonged it could cause serious damage to your turtle and be potentially fatal.

All turtles require some degree of variety in their diet. This is because no food exists that can provide your turtle will all the vitamins that they need. Vitamin deficiencies commonly accompany nutritional deficiencies if your turtle is not given a proper diet. Without variety it is also likely that your turtle will exhibit a lack of appetite.

Review proper feeding procedures for your type of turtle and if the problem persists take the turtle to a veterinarian. Our turtle care sheets can provide you with a good starting point when determining proper feeding techniques for your turtle. It may take a while for your turtle to completely return to good health but if you correct their diet the effects of the nutritional deficiencies will eventually subside.

Mites & Ticks

Mites and Ticks are small parasites that feed on the skin of your turtle. Small parasites will be visible on the surface of your turtle. When a situation like this occurs it is always best to seek the advice of your veterinarian. They will be able to confirm the diagnosis by using a microscope and recommend a treatment. Most animals that are kept as pets are at risk of becoming infected with mites and/or ticks. The best way to avoid these parasitic infestation is to ensure that the turtles habitat is clean at all times. It is recommended that you thoroughly clean the habitat on a weekly basis with minor cleanings as needed on a daily basis.

Many turtle owners are tempted to pull the mites or ticks off the surface of the turtle. This can actually cause more damage because parts of the parasites will still be left in the skin. This can cause infection over time as there will be many tiny but open wounds on the surface of the turtle. Furthermore, the infestation is likely to reoccur shortly because you will never have completely eliminated it. Substances are available either through your veterinarian or your local pet store that you can bathe your turtle in to kill the parasites.

Lack of Appetite

Probably the biggest reason for a turtle not eating is the temperature being too cool in its surroundings. Turtles are also known for being very picky eaters so you may want to try a different type of food. They become bored with their food very fast which is why it is suggested to feed them a variety of food.

Like most reptiles turtles are very susceptible to stress. If you have just changed something in its habitat or moved it altogether it is not uncommon for the turtle to take time to adapt to its new surroundings. If your turtle seems to have a lack of appetite during this time you probably have nothing to worry about just ensure that it goes away after a few days.

If all of the above suggestions fail you will have no choice but to take your turtle to see a veterinarian. The veterinarian should be able to determine the root cause and offer you some suggestions to make your turtle feel more comfortable. Nutritional deficiencies can commonly occur when the turtle does not eat which makes it important to act immediately.

Eye Disorders

Eye Disorders such as cataracts, infections and wounds can occur to turtles in captivity. Sometimes these diseases can be hard to spot so frequent observations of the turtles eyes will be necessary to spot any abnormalities. This is good practice when keeping any type of pet because the effects of any health problems can usually be minimized if they are caught early. This is especially true when dealing with the eyes of your pet as you do not want them to suffer any longterm vision loss.

Common signs include the formation of puss in the eyes as well as cloudy or sunken eyes. If you do notice a problem take your turtle to your veternarian immediately to have it checked out further. Your veterinarian will be able to perform tests on the eyes of your turtle to determine the severity.

Drowned Turtles

If you believe that your turtle has drowned it may still be alive but unconscious. Turtles cannot be under the water without oxygen for a long time so it is important to act quickly.

Take hold of the turtle's head just behind its ears and extend the neck outwards completely. Then, turn the turtle so that its head is at the ground and its tail in the air. You can then open its mouth and some water should drip out. The best way to remove the remaining water is to extend the turtle's legs straight out and then push them back in. Repeating this process should expell the remaining water.

It will then be necessary to take your turtle to your veternarian so that they can administer antibiotics and oxygen if needed to ensure a smooth recovery. The turtle will need plenty of rest afterwards while it is recovering and it is recommended that you do not handle it unless absolutely necessary during this time.

Blood Parasites in Turtles

In addition to common internal and external parasites, there are parasites that live in the red blood cells of turtles. They will also infect and make their homes in a turtle's plasma. The parasites that infect the blood of turtles are almost the same as the ones that can cause malaria in humans.

Turtles which are already ill are in the most harm as that is when blood parasites are able to cause the most damage to their already weakened immune system. Nutritional deficiencies already present in turtles makes it the easiest for blood parasites to inflict their damage.

A blood test is usually required to detect these types of parasites. The results will clearly indicate as to whether there is a parasite present in your turtles blood or if something else may be wrong with it. Treatment of this type of a disease in your turtle must be done right away although treatment may not always be possible. Therefore, seeking veterinarian advice as soon as possible is necessary for your turtle.

Bites & External Injuries

If your turtle has become unconscious as a result of its injury it will be immediately necessary to provide oxygen to it in an attempt to revive the turtle. Bites from other animals can cause considerable damage to your turtle. Beware that if your turtle lives in an aquatic or even semi-aquatic environment that it may drown if it is unconscious.

If the turtles wound appears to be bleeding heavily it will be necessary to stop the flow of blood. You can do so by putting the turtle in a cool place and soaking up the blood with a clean towel. It is then recommended that you use hydrogen peroxide on the wound to ensure it is clean. This will also help to greatly reduce the risk of infection.

Over the next couple of days it will be necessary to leave your turtle in a cool place as it may be in shock. This shock is very similar to what a human may experience after they have been badly injured. Ensure that the wound is clean until it heals completely. You can do so by again using hydrogen peroxide.

If the wound does not appear to be getting better over a period of a few days you should seek veterinarian assistance. You may need to make modifications to the turtles habitat to ensure that there is nothing in there that can get into the wound. Reducing the risk of infection and ensuring that the would begins to heal should be your primary concerns after your turtle has been injured or cut.

Algae on Turtle

Some algae growth on your turtle is acceptable however large amounts can lead to serious infections. If your turtle has had problems before with infections, especially of the shell it is important to clean any algae off regularly. If the algae growth persists it can lead to a damaging condition called shell rot. Shell rot causes permanent damage to your turtle so obviously you should take the steps necessary to avoid this.

An old toothbrush works best to remove any excess algae from your turtle. Running the turtle under warm water and then brushing the shell will yield the best results.

If algae is continually growing on your turtle take a look at their requirements for temperature and humidity levels to ensure that algae growth is no longer a problem. You may also wish to test your water quality because that is one of the leading causes of excess algae growth on turtles.

shell rot

If your Turtle's shell is showing signs pitting, soft spots, fluid under the shell plates, discharge or foul smell, or shell plates falling off and exposing tissue, you’ve got rot. If your turtle has shell rot chances are you need to examine your turtle’s environment to figure out what caused this infection. Too much moisture, too little moisture, unsanitary conditions, improper diet, improper heating, and improper lighting can all lead to shell rot and other ailments. It is important to research the needs of your turtle and create an environment to meet those needs before you purchase the actual animal.

What is shell rot?

Besides gross, shell rot is a fungal or bacterial infection of a Turtle or Tortoises shell; it can happen to aquatic or terrestrial animals but is more common in aquatic turtles. The problem begins when a turtle's shell is damaged - by a scratch, a crack, a puncture, etc. It does not have to be serious wound; a simple scratch on a rough rock can be enough to open the shell to infection. This wound leaves room for bacteria or fungi to move in and grow. The infection will rot away at the shell and if left alone can rot through the bone and into the body cavity, which can be fatal. Shell rot is contagious and can spread to other turtles that are housed with an infected turtle.

To prevent shell rot it is essential that you maintain a clean environment for your turtles.

For aquatic turtles this means heavy duty filtration that is maintained regularly as well as regular water changes. I always like to use canister filters for turtle tanks, I recommend changing the filter media weekly and changing around 50% of the water weekly or every other week. Because of the amount of filter media you end up going through I prefer to use the cheap bulk filter floss and carbon, the fancy inserts for canister filters are too pricy for me. Keeping your tank clean will help to prevent shell infections and will keep current infections from getting worse. Shell rot can also be caused by incorrect housing of turtles. It is important to allow aquatic turtles to climb out of the water and bask, not only does this get your turtle out of the water to dry off from time to time it also helps to expose them to your lighting system which should provide them with proper amounts of UVA/UVB which is required for Vitamin D3 creation (more later). If your turtle’s water is warm your turtle might not feel the need to get out and bask. If this occurs it is a good idea to lower your tank water a few degrees to encourage them to climb out and bask. Terrestrial tortoises can suffer from improper housing as well. If kept too dry, turtles from humid environments can experience deterioration of their shell, and if turtles from dry environments are kept too moist it can lead to shell rot.

Another major problem that can lead to rot and other shell deformities is Metabolic Bone Disease.

Metabolic Bone Disease is caused by improper amounts of calcium and phosphorus in your Turtle. Vitamin D3 is required for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the reptile’s body, to synthesize Vitamin D3 reptiles need exposure to UVA and UVB lighting, UVB being the most important. When housed outside turtles will get this UV exposure from natural sunlight. If housed inside we must use specialized lighting systems which in addition to heat will also provide the correct amount of UV light. You will want to use a full spectrum fluorescent bulb which can produce between 3% and 8% UVB, the amount of UVB needed depends on the species you are keeping. Animals that have more exposure to sunlight in nature (such as desert tortoises) require more UVB. Some of the key signs of Metabolic Bone Disease are deformed/crooked limbs/tails, pyramiding of the shell, and softening of the shell.

Treatment of Shell Rot

The treatment of shell rot can be started at home but if you do not see any improvement in a matter of days you will need to take your turtle to a reptile vet. If the infection has already eaten through the shell you should take your turtle to a vet immediately.

• Swab the infected area of the shell with a diluted povidone-iodine solution.

• Gently scrape away the infected area with a blunt tool of some sort like a butter knife.

• Swab the area with the dilute povidone-iodine solution again.

• Treat the infected area with an antibiotic ointment, wait 10min after applying the ointment to return aquatic turtles to the water.

• If you do not notice an improvement after a few days of treating with antibiotic ointment you can try treating with an antifungal cream.

• If there is still no improvement after a few days you will need to take your turtle to a Vet.

If you do not see signs of improvement in a week, or if you are unsure about treating the infection at home, take your turtle to a qualified reptile vet.