Shell rot or Fungus?

Alana

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2015
Messages
19
Hi all! I am the new owner of a Red Footed tortoise named YoshI! He's very active and has a great personality. He was a gift on the 17th of January and seems to be in very good shape. I am a bit concerned, seeing the many helpful articles referring to shell rot or shell fungus? When i got him, I noticed a few white patches on the plastron. Is this something I should be concerned about? I've read about Betadine and Clotrimozle to help..but I'd like to get some insight from the community. I look forward to your responses..Greatly appreciated, See picture attached

-Alana

(Yoshi was interested in doing some research too.) :)DSC_0716.JPG self research.JPG
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,405
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Hi Alana, and welcome to the forum!

Keep the tortoise on a fairly dry substrate for a week or so and treat the first and only time with Betadine, and after that you can just rub in some athlete's foot cream. It should clear it right up.

Once it has healed and new shell is growing, go back to your moist substrate, but use one that tends to dry out on top, but stays moist underneath. You don't want the tortoise sitting on a wet substrate all the time or it will come back.
 

Alana

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2015
Messages
19
Hi Alana, and welcome to the forum!

Keep the tortoise on a fairly dry substrate for a week or so and treat the first and only time with Betadine, and after that you can just rub in some athlete's foot cream. It should clear it right up.

Once it has healed and new shell is growing, go back to your moist substrate, but use one that tends to dry out on top, but stays moist underneath. You don't want the tortoise sitting on a wet substrate all the time or it will come back.


-Thank you so much, Yvonne.

I really appreciate it.Will do. Is Betadine available in pet stores? Also, should the athletes foot cream be applied daily until it clears or multiple times throughout the day?
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,405
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
You can buy Betadine in the pharmacy. And apply the cream daily until you see an improvement. I think once a day is good enough.
 

Alana

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2015
Messages
19
You can buy Betadine in the pharmacy. And apply the cream daily until you see an improvement. I think once a day is good enough.
Thanks, Yvonne. I feel much better knowing that info!
 

Alana

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2015
Messages
19
THANK YOU Yvonne!! I am seeing such wonderful results within a matter of 2 days! I have seen a lot of forums about this subject(after the fact...go figure..) and I haven't seen many pictures about the healing visual process so I'll upload some , just as a reference with the Betadine and athlete's foot cream treatment for other members of the community. I was so nervous, said a little prayer and everything....but I must say...Yoshi didn't seem to like being held that way at all, as soon as I placed him down he was off. Sorry Yoshi...but its for your health!!
before treatmentbefore treatment.JPG
after day one after day one treatment healing.JPG
after day twoafter day two treatment healing.JPG

...As you can see..there is still a bit left, I will continue for the next few days and post an update soon!
 

HLogic

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
1,034
Location (City and/or State)
Florida, USA
As a suggestion, replace all of the substrate in the enclosure. It has been inoculated with the fungus and will reinfect the tortoise.
 

Alana

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2015
Messages
19
As a suggestion, replace all of the substrate in the enclosure. It has been inoculated with the fungus and will reinfect the tortoise.
-Yes. Thank you! I was going to change it, thinking the same thing.
 

New Posts

Top