Retained Scutes??

[Yellow Turtle01]

I'm freaking out! My southern painted turtle is shedding (AGAIN) and I realized it's been a while since I saw my midland shed... ANYTHING! I remembered something Anthony P said a while back, and now I'm thinking he has retained scutes
Pics of my southern-

Nice, smooth shell...

Bottom/sides

Pics of my midland- (I'm sorry, he simply would NOT hold still, I had a towel, he kept peeing on me!)

See, what I'm most concerned about are those lumpy edges between the scutes, the bad peeling and th fact I haven't see him shed anything!
WHY? They have a great tube UVB, a basking spot that has a portion in water and out at high 80s to the 90s, and it goes down to 70s in the night (Howi [the issue of cerncern) ALWAYS sleeps on the land while the other sleeps in the water) their water is a constant temperature of 70 degrees, and he has got a great diet! Adult maintenance ZOOMed pellets (with less ash!) every day, with the variation of Fluckers turtle buffet, real, cooked meat like beef, chicken and pork at least 3 times a week, veggies like cucumber, dandelions (They HATE their greens) some lettuces and I'm working on growing aquatic plants like duckweed and feeding that too! They recently just got a big upgrade form a 40 gallon tan to a 75 gallon tank, and I've never seen any bulling/biting
Is something wrong, or am I just freaking out?

 

[ascott]

How often do you offer a protein rich source (like kind x times per week)....

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

How often do you offer a protein rich source (like kind x times per week)....

Usually 4, but they always get something at least 3 times a week... like meat... I give them earthworms sometimes... Recently I even tried crickets, and a delicious treat, and they were very into them!

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

@Anthony P?

 

[zenoandthetortoise]

As I recall, retained scutes is a vitamin E issue. Look for pellets (often for koi) that have wheat germ as first ingredient.

 

[Anthony P]

Thanks for tagging me! I missed this thread!

Actually @zenoandthetortoise is completely correct. Those wheat germ pellets are meant to help koi fish either come out of or go into hibernation. Most pet stores that have a decent amount of pond fish supplies will carry the pellets. It's a good plan of attack for what your turtle seems to have going on. With that said, it doesn't look like a particularly horrible case, but these thing can sometimes worsen over time, so it's good to stay ahead of it like you're obviously trying to do.

I don't think offering high protein foods has much to do with this, but I would offer those items less than 3 or 4 times a week. Once weekly is a healthier approach. Not surprised that he prefers that stuff. I had enjoyed the pizza I had for lunch today, even though a salad would have been better for me at the moment :-/

 

[zenoandthetortoise]

This is one I have used.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

This is one I have used.
View attachment 95418

I've actually seen those in the fish dept. at the petstore when I buy my turtle's food!
Thanks so much, I'll have to grab a bag

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Thanks for tagging me! I missed this thread!

Actually @zenoandthetortoise is completely correct. Those wheat germ pellets are meant to help koi fish either come out of or go into hibernation. Most pet stores that have a decent amount of pond fish supplies will carry the pellets. It's a good plan of attack for what your turtle seems to have going on. With that said, it doesn't look like a particularly horrible case, but these thing can sometimes worsen over time, so it's good to stay ahead of it like you're obviously trying to do.

I don't think offering high protein foods has much to do with this, but I would offer those items less than 3 or 4 times a week. Once weekly is a healthier approach. Not surprised that he prefers that stuff. I had enjoyed the pizza I had for lunch today, even though a salad would have been better for me at the moment :-/

They'll be so disappointed
Are there other foods I can give that are rich in vitaminE?

 

[zenoandthetortoise]

Many of the Omega one diets have vitamin E. This is a lower protein one I use in rotation.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Oh wow, I bought the orange version of those a while back when they were on sale! I'll have to get some more!
Thanks

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Would this be oky? It's what I had before.

 

[zenoandthetortoise]

I use that one too. I rotate these three plus Mazuri aquatic, plus live foods, and greens