Diamondback Terrapin health questions

[Mad About Cichlids]

Just got my two diamondback terrapins back from a friend and they have what seems to be flaky skin. Whatever it is that is shedding from their skin floats to the top of water and looks oily. Sorry can't explain it in better detail but if anyone has heard or seen something like this, would love to find out more about it.



Thanks

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Well turtles do shed pieces of skin from time to time. I've never kept DBT before but I do know that they need pristine water and can develop skin fungus very easily. Do you keep yours in brackish or fresh water?

 

[Mad About Cichlids]

They have always been in freshwaters.

My friend said the terrapins been shedding like that for a while now. I'm just hoping it's nothing too serious.


BTW whatever they're shedding also looks similar to dandruffs

 

[joel]

they should be kept in brackish water. i would add some salt to the water. also how big are they? if they are small they will shed very often.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

BTW whatever they're shedding also looks similar to dandruffs

It sounds like they're just shedding pieces of skin which is normal. You could probably add a little salt to the tank if you think it's fungus.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

they should be kept in brackish water. i would add some salt to the water. also how big are they? if they are small they will shed very often.

Actually if they were captive bred and kept in FW from the start, you can keep them in it for life. But if they were kept in brackish from the beginning it's hard to switch them over to FW because of the possibility of developing fungus.

 

[coura]

I see that on my turts all the time and by what you descrive its just the normal shedding, mixed with the high protein and lipid released from turtle waste Just keep one eye on it. Skin probs on turts look like yellowish crusts on the turts skin

 

[joel]

Actually if they were captive bred and kept in FW from the start, you can keep them in it for life. But if they were kept in brackish from the beginning it's hard to switch them over to FW because of the possibility of developing fungus.

really. i've never kept a terrapin just read a lot about them. thanks for the info. some salt or a sulfa block woudn't hurt though.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

really. i've never kept a terrapin just read a lot about them. thanks for the info. some salt or a sulfa block woudn't hurt though.

Yeah I've read a lot about these guys too because I always wanted some. I was talking to a DBT breeder at the last reptile show I was at and he keeps all his turtles in FW.

 

[Knowdafish]

Make sure they get enough light too. Proper UVA/UVB lighting seams to help to. Sunlight is even better as long as they don't get too hot.