Re: Fungus? Please Help!!!

Posted by Joe on July 05, 1999 at 12:25:00:

In Reply to: Fungus? Please Help!!! posted by Kelly on June 16, 1999 at 13:34:26:

: My husband brought home a soft-shelled turtle little over 2 weeks ago. Four days ago we noticed a spot on his shell. It started out a black/grey color, now the spot is white in the middle and there are more spots!!! The pet store where he got it from told us that it is a fungus and has us swabbing him with iodine. They also had us remove the Pleco we had in the tank because he was "chewing" on the back of his shell and claim that the other spots are due to this. We keep getting conflicting advice and the poor guy doesn't seem to be clearing up!!! HELP!!!

soft shells are prone to shell fungus. There are a number of things to try. Probably the best is a dilute solution of betadine....not iodine. Dilute (the dilute solution should look like weak tea)this and put on the shell but avoid the head.Herpcare has a spray (Skin and Shell Treatment) that works great but not all pet shops carry it. There is also a soak by Tetra that works too. Also get it out of the aquarium into a its own container. Hook up a basking light. Have water depth shallow enough that it can sit on the bottom and put its head above water. Provide something soft to bask on like cork bark(not rocks). I also use a little aquarium salt with mine. This also helps with shell problems.

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: : My husband brought home a soft-shelled turtle little over 2 weeks ago. Four days ago we noticed a spot on his shell. It started out a black/grey color, now the spot is white in the middle and there are more spots!!! The pet store where he got it from told us that it is a fungus and has us swabbing him with iodine. They also had us remove the Pleco we had in the tank because he was "chewing" on the back of his shell and claim that the other spots are due to this. We keep getting conflicting advice and the poor guy doesn't seem to be clearing up!!! HELP!!! : soft shells are prone to shell fungus. There are a number of things to try. Probably the best is a dilute solution of betadine....not iodine. Dilute (the dilute solution should look like weak tea)this and put on the shell but avoid the head.Herpcare has a spray (Skin and Shell Treatment) that works great but not all pet shops carry it. There is also a soak by Tetra that works too. Also get it out of the aquarium into a its own container. Hook up a basking light. Have water depth shallow enough that it can sit on the bottom and put its head above water. Provide something soft to bask on like cork bark(not rocks). I also use a little aquarium salt with mine. This also helps with shell problems.

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