Is this shell rot?

[littlebit_sls]

My sulcata has dug a hole that he likes to stay in. Because we are in Florida, it doesn’t take much to hit water. The hole almost always has water in it and he is almost always muddy. I’m assuming this is shell rot due to the moisture. How do I treat this and how do I keep him from digging a new hole?

 

[Beasty_Artemis]

Looks like some fungus. Put some coconut oil on it. It's like athlete's foot. It makes them uncomfortable, and athlete's foot medication ( like the creams) will cure that right the heck up!

 

[wellington]

Looks like some fungus. Put some coconut oil on it. It's like athlete's foot. It makes them uncomfortable, and athlete's foot medication ( like the creams) will cure that right the heck up!

No oil until after its healed if it is a fungus. Then they could use the oil if prefer. Personally for a big one living outside with bugs that could be attracted to the oil, even though its wiped off, is a risk I wouldn't take.

 

[wellington]

Do not put oil on it. But do try the athletes foot cream.

 

[mark1]

hard water stains look like that on turtle shells ..... i'll see similiar on the water turtles after they spend the winter under water ...... try some diluted vinegar solution and see if it comes off with a brush ....... i believe vinegar is also an anti-fungal .......

 

[wellington]

Forgot to say its not shell rot. It could be either a fungus or the hard water stain mark1 mentioned. I have never seen what was 100% determined hard water stain on a tort, so I can't say on that. Either way the athletes foot cream won't hurt if it's not a fungus and neither should the vinegar. Howeber do only one for about a week cleaning the area before applying anything. If no improvement after a week then try the other suggestion.
You do need to keep him out of the wet hole though for anything to work.

 

[littlebit_sls]

Thank you all so much. I’ll start on the athlete’s foot cream. I’m glad to hear it isn’t shell rot.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

As @wellington mentioned. The ATHLETES FOOT CREAM does no harm. But will quickly kill fungus if it is fungus.