Shell rot is a commonly seen problem in many species of aquatic turtles, and is the result of damage to the shell that has been open to bacteria or fungal build-up. It can be fatal if left untreated. Causes include: unclean water, improper diet or heating, or lack of UVB lighting.
Signs of shell rot in aquatic turtles include soft areas on the shell, discharge build-up underneath scutes, loss of scutes and exposure of tissue underneath and a foul smell from the area of concern. Shell rot can become contagious to other turtles, so if you house multiple turtles together it is important to remove the infected turtle as soon as you notice that it may have shell rot.
Treatment begins with removing any infected parts carefully with a clean, blunt tool. Remember to be extremely gentle, as your turtle can feel everything on their shell. (We strongly recommend consulting a experienced veterinarian about this step, as you could potentially harm the turtle during this process). After the infected tissue is removed, clean the area with either betadine, Chlorhexidine and/or Gentian Violet. Follow with a routine of “dry docking” – which means removing the turtle from the water completely and keeping it in a dry, warm and secure place for at least 12 hours a day until you begin to see drastic improvement. This can take a few weeks.
While your turtle is healing and not dry-docked they should be kept in very clean water. To avoid getting food or waste in the infected area, feed the turtle outside their regular enclosure in a bin of warm water, and try to wait until they go to the bathroom before putting them back into their clean enclosure. In extreme cases, an injection of Baytril or Cefotaxime may be administered for infection by a veterinarian. The lost scute will regenerate over time, and making sure to keep the turtle’s shell and the water/enclosure clean works well as a preventative measure post-recovery.