RED SPOTS on turtle shell help please

[TheSun]

My 4 year-old male, yellow belly slider turtle has red markings on his shell in certain areas of his neck. Namely, under the neck skin, and shell. It also is appearing in the back of his legs, and under his tail on the shell and in some parts of his skin. He also appears lethargic, but has a healthy appetite. His tank is at optimal temperatures and humidity and he has a healthy basking schedule.

I can’t afford veterinary services at this time, so I’d like to know first what this is, and if there’s anything I can do to treat it at home.

 

[wellington]

Is he by himself?
How clean is his enclosure? How big? Type of filter?
@Markw84

 

[TheSun]

Is he by himself?
How clean is his enclosure? How big? Type of filter?
@Markw84

Yes he's by himself, 64 gallons wide/long with a proper basking dock. carbon filter, he's about the side of a hamburger patty weighing 1 pound/

 

[wellington]

How big of a filter? Turtles need good filtration. My first thought is too dirty of a tank.

 

[TheSun]

I'm not sure of the exact size but I know it does a good job, I keep the tank pretty clean with frequent maintenance. Are you aware of what this condition is though?

 

[Tim Carlisle]

How big of a filter? Turtles need good filtration. My first thought is too dirty of a tank.

I need to clean mine this weekend. Thanks for the reminder! lol

 

[wellington]

I need to clean mine this weekend. Thanks for the reminder! lol

Always happy to help lol😁

 

[TheSun]

Any ideas whats wrong and what I can do?

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Any ideas whats wrong and what I can do?

I won't swear to it 100%, but it almost looks like the beginnings of shell rot to me.

 

[TheSun]

hm, I never considered that... I'll do some research on it.

Is there anything I can do to treat shell rot?

 

[Tim Carlisle]

hm, I never considered that... I'll do some research on it.

Is there anything I can do to treat shell rot?

I've never treated a water turtle for it before, so I'm not sure. Maybe this link will help you: https://www.everythingreptiles.com/...nclude things like,Then apply a healing cream.

 

[TheSun]

Thanks!

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Thanks!

Like I said, don't take my observations as 100% true. But that's kinda what it looks like to me.

 

[TheSun]

Anyone else?

 

[wellington]

I don't think it's rot. I think it's an infection of some sort. Being on his shell and on the cut? on leg. I would treat the water with an antibiotic solution if they have it or seek a vet visit.

 

[TheSun]

I don't think it's rot. I think it's an infection of some sort. Being on his shell and on the cut? on leg. I would treat the water with an antibiotic solution if they have it or seek a vet visit.

You think he has a cut? Where?

 

[Tim Carlisle]

I don't think it's rot. I think it's an infection of some sort. Being on his shell and on the cut? on leg. I would treat the water with an antibiotic solution if they have it or seek a vet visit.

Odd that it runs the entire rear underside of the carapace. Looks apparent around both rear legs.

 

[wellington]

Odd that it runs the entire rear underside of the carapace. Looks apparent around both rear legs.

Yeah, and being red like it is, makes me think of an infection of some sort.

 

[wellington]

You think he has a cut? Where?

Now that it's blown up, it doesn't look like a cut. In your pic, before I copied it, it looks like a cut and is red.

 

[TheSun]

No actually, I think you may be right. When I used to have to give my turtle injections for respiratory problems a few months ago, the markings the vet and I would leave looked like that from the needle.

Not necessarily open wound looking, but like something was there at one point. And now that it's blown up it also looks like there's bruising around the back of his leg surrounding that area unique to the other sides of him. I think you may have solved my problem. I was thinking sepsis, but sepsis is a result of some kind of physical injury that entered into the bloodstream but I couldn't find it, and now I think you just did.