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ReptilesPet parentOctober 29, 2026

Painted turtle, possible shell rot

Painted turtle, possible shell rot. I’m just wondering if it’s worth bringing him in. I first noticed some weird whiteness all over the back of his shell mainly towards the back. That was not normwl. So the next day i cleaned his water and brushed him with a soft bristled toothbrush. The whiteness never came back, but i’ve noticed some parts of his shell are noticable different. I’m not sure if he’s shedding. He doesn’t smell, but the areas are a little squishy. Not like my finger can just go through it, but it’s noticeably not as hard as the shell. Here’s photos starting from oldest to newest.

A licensed veterinarian’s answer

DWDylan Wilson, DVMVerified VetSmall Animal, Mixed Animal, Preventive Care, Laboratory Medicine · KY license 293504Answered 3d ago

Hello, sorry to hear about your turtle. What is their basking set up? Do you know what temperature the water and basking area stays around? If this is shell rot, he needs to see a veterinarian for antibiotics as soon as possible. Opportunistic bacteria and fungus can latch on to a damaged shell or a shell that doesn't dry enough over several days. There could also be something in the tank that damaged the shell. I would try and create a small container to keep fresh clean distilled water to let them stay in to recover. The main tank may need the water parameters checked to make sure its not chemical burn related injury.

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