Plastron problem- HELP!

[DrewsLife727]

Ok so heres my luck. A friend of mine who owns 5 red foots is moving and had to get rid of his tortoises. He sold 3 and decided to give me the 2 he couldn't sell. They are 2 red foots just less than 5 inches long and they are of Panamanian roots. Much brighter shells then my two bigger reds. (please confirm this for me experienced members!). He gave them to me today and he said they couldnt sell because people thought they were diseased because their plastron is damaged. My friend didnt know much on how to raise them and he did not use good substrate. Here is a pic of their plastron. What exactly is the problem here? Also can you confirm what type of red foot this is? Lastly how do I care for it? Thank you TFO! (Again I say another surprise addition to my family. Im just glad I have the space for them haha)

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IMG_0603 by Drewslife727, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_0604 by Drewslife727, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_0605 by Drewslife727, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_0606 by Drewslife727, on Flickr[/img]

 

[EricIvins]

Shell Fungus.....

 

[DrewsLife727]

How do you treat it?

 

[pdrobber]

If I remember correctly this is what others have suggested and the reasoning.

Buy some betadine. Mix a little of it with water to make a diluted solution. Get a rag and soak up some of the solution and rub the plastron. Do this step only once, it cleans the area by killing what's there.

Buy an antifungal cream that has clotrimazole and apply a thin layer to the dry plastron daily, keeping plastron as dry as possible during this time. This will fight the fungal infection and the plastron will return to normal coloration appearance. If parts of the plastron were damaged by the infection, like chunks eaten away, this won't really be healed, but the distinctive fungal infection coloration will go away and it will not be damaged further.

 

[DrewsLife727]

I should keep them from my other two huh

 

[TortieLuver]

You for sure want to separate them due to the fungus and the fact that they need som quarantine time to make sure they don't have anything else that your healthy torts can get.

 

[DrewsLife727]

Got it they're separated

 

[EricIvins]

Shell Fungus 101, stickied at the top of this forum.......

 

[DrewsLife727]

Can anyone also tell me what kind of redfoot this is? The guy said he thinks they are panamanian but not sure

 

[RedfootsRule]

Just like pdrobber said. Shell fungus happens so easily in red foots for some reason, but it clears up very quickly when treated. If treated daily, the fungus will probably be gone within a week. My suggestion would be at night when he's gone to sleep, scrub the affected area of his shell with water, dry it, and apply the clotramazine. Put him in a separate plastic container with no substrate (still keep him warm and the air humid, however) and leave him til morning. In the morning, wash and scrub the clotramazine off and put the tortoise back in his enclosure til night, then do it again.