Does cracks in the top of a baby turtle's shell's mean their growing?

Question

I'm turtle sitting and I've been spoiling the baby turtles with food and cleaning out there aquarium more frequently than his father ever did. Sometimes my roommate would be gone for days without feeding them until I just started buying them food. A little over a week ago my roommate went on vacation and I've been feeding the turtles. It's gotten to the point where they climb up on the rock hill I made them when they hear my voice because I can't deny them anything. Am I hurting them by over feeding them and do you think the cracks in their shells are from gaining too much weight for their shells to keep up or is this a natural process as baby turtles grow?

Answer 1

My turtle never had cracks in it's shell ever, Turtles can get over weight and then will not fit properly in there shell, this happened to mine, I was recommended to only feed it about every 3 days or so, and only about once a week in the winter (I don't heat it's tank I just have a light, and he goes into semi-hibernation in the winter) He has been very healthy this way and is about 10 years old and getting bigger! I would be very worried about cracks in my turtles shell, I think there are ways to repair them though, I will try to find a link for you.

Camille - You can't just get a turtle a new shell lol!!

Answer 2

1. Overfeeding a turtle is a VERY bad thing- the excess fat and tissue does not have a place to go and crowds the lungs and organs.

2. Turtles cannot hear you, but they can feel the vibrations and see you perfectly well.

3. I am not sure what you mean by cracks. If you mean it looks like the scales of the shell are lifting off- this is shedding and is a normal result of growth... to a point. Too much of it (and if you can see it, it is usually too much) is a sign of overfeeding or stress. (If the sheds are thick, discolored, or the shell underneath looks abnormal- it may be shell rot instead.)

4. If you mean that there are gaps between the scales (scutes), this is normal as well... to a point. As long as the gap is small enough to fill in fairly quickly, it is OK. Larger gaps can cause problems in the long-term development of the shell.

5. If there are actual cracks in the shell- splits, fractures, breaks, etc.- this is a really bad sign and needs a vet's care.

Try http://www.redearslider.com for more care details.

Answer 3

Turtles dont shed like other reptiles their shells grow along with them.... cracks is definitely a problem... I've seen dips and bumps in their shells from vitamin deficiencies. I wouldn't over feed them... once a day is enough. Is there anyway that their owner could have dropped them...is there any other animals in the house that would bother them like a dog? The cracks aren't going to kill them (depending on the severity) just keep a close eye... make sure they aren't hurting them self's by falling... or anything else that would hurt them. Good Luck and God bless

Answer 4

You should be providing UVB light and calcium supplement so that they do not have bone deformities.

Answer 5

you will have to bring them to the vets and get them spical care.

Answer 6

it might hurt them tho..

answer my question pleasee-

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Answer 7

Its great you are taking care of them since your roommate isn't but there should not be cracks in the shell. It might not hurt to take them to a vet but as long as they are acting ok they should be fine. It can hurt them to over feed them. I know its hard to resist when they respond to you (mine does the same thing). You need to not over feed them and watch their shells real close. It will take a long time for the cracks to heal but they should be ok. When they grow you will see what looks like rings around the plates (scutes) of their shells (like tree rings).

Answer 8

it can be because you're feeding them too much, and then it can mean that its growing. But if I were you i would check if it is a baby it shouldn't be too heavy, and then if it seems kinda weighed down, you should slow down on the feeding, like 2 to three times of a generous amount of food is good.

Answer 9

The cracking of the shell is a natural process. They will need a bigger shell soon.   Get them another shell as soon as you can because they will one night crawl out of their shell and they will need a new one. If they don't have a shell laid out for them they will soon die. Get them both a new shell quickly. Hope this helps! (:

Answer 10

no, its not a good sign, they are getting hurt, over feeding is bad...

Answer 11

There is a difference between the SHELL cracking and individual plates of the shell "lifting".  If the plates are lifting, it means that they are growing, and this is normal.

It is possible, however, to over-feed turtles.  Like many animals, they will eat when food is available, and if they eat too much in a short period of time, this can lead to discomfort.  (If you've ever been to a buffet and had the ill effects later, imagine doing that for a week without understanding the cause-effect relationship.)

Depending on the size of portion, size of turtle, and type of food, you might feed them as often as once a day, or as infrequently as once a week.  I used to feed mine turtle food every other day, and live fish about twice a month.  (They like to hunt, and feeder fish are pretty cheap.)

Also, turtles will grow to the right size for their container.  We learned this after moving them to the next size tank 3 times, so they would be "comfortable".  As it turns out, the tank they were in was just right, and each time, they grew to the next "right" size.

Answer 12

they require alot of fish (goldfish minows feeder guppies..and greens...and a nice bunch of rocks to sit on and bask in the tank light or REAL sunlight. They need alot of water to swim in...

I have had 2 sliders for 36 yrs now plus a 7 yr old and a 5 yr old. This is how I have taken care of them for 36 yrs. Great pets.

I have had them in a stand alone 150gal pond from sears..for about 6 yrs now..

Here is some important and a lot of info. If he or she is small get feeder guppies or small feeder goldfish, frozen brown worms ..or live brown worms from a fish store. petco and or petsmart do not carry live worms..

Red-eared sliders, Gender especially juveniles, can be difficult to s*x. Gender in adults is determined by external physical characteristics and behavior. In Comparison to females, males have longer fore claws (which are use in courtship), a longer tail length, a longer distance from the body to the vent opening, a tail that is thicker at the base and generally a smaller body size and shell length. Turtles are considered juveniles till after 5 yrs old.

Their Home

The minimum enclosure size for hatchling re-eared slider should be a 20-gallon aquarium. As a general rule, the water depth should be at least 2 times the turtle's length, with several extra inches of air space between the surface of the water to the top edge of the tank to prevent escapes. For 4 to 5 inch long sliders, the recommended minimum enclosure surface area is 50 gal plus tank with an extra square foot for each additional turtle.

What to Feed

In the wild, re-eared sliders eat both animal and plant sources of food. However, juveniles are mainly meat eaters but still love the greens.

In captivity, the diet for juveniles should consist primarily of a commercial aquatic turtle pellet. Hatchlings and juveniles should be fed on a daily basis; however, they should be offered no more than they will consume during a single session to minimize water contamination. The diet can be supplemented with live fish of an appropriate size (guppies, goldfish), tubiflex worms and earthworms. Plant matter, in the form of chapped leafy greens or finely chapped mixed vegetables, can be offered once weekly but may not be readily accepted until they grow older. Fill tank with approx 20 feeder guppies and or 10 to 15 small goldfish. you’ll know when to replenish the live food supply. just count what’s left

For adults, 20% of the diet may consist of commercial turtle pellets. Plus 80% of their diet is fresh alive fish to catch in their water which also gives them exercise when trying to catch to eat. Adults should be fed greens kale, romaine, red leaf lettuce, mustard greens, dandelion, watercress, parsley. Swiss chard, shredded carrots, shredded squash, thawed frozen mixed vegetables and miscellaneous fruits. Adults can be fed every two to three days. NO iceberg or cabbage!!

Vital Statistics

Total Body length: 5-8" average, up to 12 inches max.

Life span: 15-25+ years

Males have the longer foreclaws..

Water quality and Filtration

Sliders are voracious feeders and tend to foul the water quickly with their messy eating habits and frequent defecation. Therefore, a system needs to be in place for good water quality. Partial to full water changes can be performed. Many different filter systems are available ..

Common Health Problems

If you take proper care of your red-eared slider by providing excellent housing, nutrition, lighting, and heating, it is unlikely to ever become ill or injured. However, it’s still important to familiarize yourself with ailments common to sliders so that you can quickly identify them in your own slider, should it become ill. The following are some of the most common medical problems among red-eared sliders.

Fungal Infections

“Fungal infections are fairly common among red-eared sliders, especially younger ones. If you notice what looks like a light layer of cotton on your slider’s shell or eyes or in its mouth, this is most likely some form of fungal infection. Although their appearance can be alarming, most infections in their early stages are fully treatable at home. If a fungal infection remains untreated, however, it can spread across the entire body and cause serious harm to your turtle.

To treat a mild fungal infection, immerse your red-eared slider in a warm saltwater bath for about half an hour each day, using a soft sponge to gently scrub the infected regions. You can also treat patches of fungus with topical applications of a mild antiseptic, such as povidone-iodine. As long as the problem isn’t severe, you should notice signs of recovery within a day or two, and a full recovery in about 10–14 days.

If your turtle has a persistent fungal infection that home treatment isn’t curing, take it to the vet for treatment. Several medications are available that can address a fungal infection if it hasn’t spread too far.”

Respiratory Infections

“Slider turtles and other aquatic species are susceptible to respiratory infections. Most respiratory infections that can affect sliders are mild and easily treatable in their early stages, but there are also some particularly virulent infections that can kill a turtle very quickly without veterinary attention. Sliders usually develop respiratory infections when their tank is too cold.

Symptoms of an infection include a runny nose, wheezing, lopsided swimming (an ailing lung changes the turtle’s buoyancy), lethargy, and a refusal to eat. If you identify the illness in its early stages, you may be able to treat it by removing the sick slider from its quarters into a new, clean tank (especially if you keep multiple sliders, since the majority of respiratory infections are contagious) and keeping it a few degrees warmer than normal. Warmth is the most crucial factor in treating respiratory infections in the home. If the condition persists for more than a few days or worsens, bring your slider to your veterinarian, who will treat the infection with antibiotics.”

Contact the “herpetologicalsocieties.com“.

Answer 13

i have a baby turtle and a big turtle and as long as the cracks have shell in between it should be fine, but i wouldnt feed them so much where food sits on top of the water because they wont eat it

Answer 14

it means their dying slowly and painfully, its lik cancer mixed with aids for a turtle

hope your turtle doesnt have it   ;)

Answer 15

I think it might be hurting them.. :(

Answer 16

I dont know whats causing the cracks in the shell but i got a lotion for my turtles shell when i got him his shell was cracked and it healed it pretty fast its Vitashell the company who makes it is Tetrafauna you can find it at a pet store it was only $3.50