Why is my turtles shell bendy?

Keep in mind that a soft shell could be a sign of metabolic bone disease and shell rot. If it is not treated quick enough, it could become fatal. Some of the main causes of soft shell in turtles include calcium deficiency, unbalanced diet, poor lighting, and inadequate basking platforms.

Why is my red eared slider turtles shell soft?

Its real name is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) and it is caused by poor diet and/or insufficient lighting. In order to stay alive, turtles require a certain amount of calcium in the bloodstream. In other words, the turtle’s bones have softened, making the protein layer (shell) seem soft.

Why is my turtles shell getting soft?

Most likely, your turtle’s shell is soft because it has metabolic bone disease. Metabolic bone disease is often caused by poor diet or poor lighting, both of which prevent the turtle from properly absorbing calcium within the blood. Without calcium, turtles develop metabolic bone disease, leading to a soft shell.

How do you treat a soft shell turtle?

I think soak the shell with a dilute betadine preparation for ten minutes, as picture below. I then scrub the shell with a surgeons hand brush and toothbrush to remove any left over flakes or debris, and finally rinse with fresh water. This process can be repeated in severe cases every few days.

Is the bottom of a turtle shell soft?

Turtles and tortoises have a carapace (the top or dorsal shell) and a plastron (the bottom or ventral shell), both of which should always be hard (unless it is a hatchling turtle or a species of water turtle that always has a soft shell).

How long do baby turtles shells stay soft?

Younger turtles do tend to have softer shells, and it may take years for a turtle to fully develop a strong shell. This mobility does show that the shell is soft, but softness at a young age is normal. However, a turtle’s shell can get too soft; this happens when the turtle has metabolic bone disease.

How do I know if my turtle is pyramiding?

The early signs of pyramiding in tortoises include vertical and not-so-smooth shell growth. Both turtles and tortoises experience this disease. It is an outcome of poor husbandry routine and some other contributing factors.

Can turtles feel pain on their shell?

A: Yes a turtle’s shell does have feeling! If you scratch a turtle, he will feel it just as if you were scratching his skin. He can also feel pain through his shell. We’ve sadly seen many cases where humans have drilled holes in turtles’ shells.

Do turtles like being petted?

Turtles are arguably the cutest of all of the reptiles. Because of this, they are often desirable pets. However, turtles don’t really enjoy being handled and petted the same way other domestic animals do. For those of you who own a pet turtle/tortoise, this is how to pet one without injuring the turtle.

Can turtles feel you pet their shell?

Turtles are unable to remove their shells because they are connected to it by their spine. Because of this, the spinal cords nerve endings run through the surface of the shell and give the turtle the ability to feel contact when something touches it. This goes for all species of turtles!