Is my turtle trying to shed her scutes?

Question

I have a RES and she has a some scutes that are slightly lose and lately she has been squuzing between her turtle dock and the side of the tank and rubbing her back against the black poles that connect it to the wall of the tank. Why would she be doing this? it is a very tight squeeze to get through and she has plenty of room to swim otherwise.

here is a link to the dock I use

http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=167&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=1&SearchContext=YTo3OntzOjg6IlNlYXJjaElEIjtzOjE6IjEiO3M6MTA6IkRhdGFiYXNlSUQiO3M6MToiMiI7czo3OiJLZXl3b3JkIjtzOjE1OiJUdXJ0bGUvVG9ydG9pc2UiO3M6MTU6IlByb2R1Y3RDYXRlZ29yeSI7czoxNToiVHVydGxlL1RvcnRvaXNlIjtzOjc6IkhlYWRpbmciO3M6OToiVGVycmFyaXVtIjtzOjg6IlNlYXJjaF94IjtzOjE6IjAiO3M6ODoiU2VhcmNoX3kiO3M6MToiMCI7fQ==

Answer 1

yes this means she is growning which means your doing everything great. She is scratching herself to get the old scutes off so the new can come through..

Do not pull off , let them come off by themselves..

Sliders are great for decorating ponds or large tanks. I have had two for 36 yrs now plus a 8 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..

Luck.

Answer 2

ya let her go through it by herself and the process ill fo faster than if you tried to pull it off.

Answer 3

I don't know what "squzzing" is, but it can't be good.  It is normal for aquatic turtles to shed their scutes.  What is not normal is if it's too often or too many an once.  Water quality plays a big factor determining this.  Check the water quality and make sure it is in the right buffer zone and there are no heavy metals, unwanted bacteria or any other negative qualities.