What Shell Fungus Looks like

[ZEROPILOT]

This is one of my RF females.
They live in an outdoors pen and are rarely handled. However, yesterday, it was necessary for me to bring them indoors because of cooler than normal temperatures.
I inspected each tortoise, and found that tortoise "C" had some shell fungus. Actually quite a lot.
Just her. None on the other 3.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It looks pale. Either light yellow or white and is kind of soft like hard cheese when active and chalky when it is not.
This has become mostly chalky, so it has already started to heal.
I've applied dollar store Athletes foot cream to the whole area.
It will stop it from growing and the area will eventually scar over and heal. Though this will take several months.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It's not uncommon in a Redfoot to get this from time to time in an inside enclosure or outside like mine.
Treatment is very simple.
Inspecting for fungus every few months is a good idea.
It's usually no cause for alarm, but it can get bad if not found and treated.
This looks like an issue in this one animal from the rainy season that has passed. It was healing on its own.
It's not unusual to have multiple RF and see fungus with only one.
This particular tortoise sleeps under bushes and not in the dryer night houses.

 

[CarolM]

It's not uncommon in a Redfoot to get this from time to time in an inside enclosure or outside like mine.
Treatment is very simple.
Inspecting for fungus every few months is a good idea.
It's usually no cause for alarm, but it can get bad if not found and treated.
This looks like an issue in this one animal from the rainy season that has passed. It was healing on its own.
It's not unusual to have multiple RF and see fungus with only one.
This particular tortoise sleeps under bushes and not in the dryer night houses.

Shame poor little guy.

 

[baldegale]

i just noticed yesterday my RF has some fungus. already having my dad get some athletes foot cream on his way home from work. i really should check more

 

[ZEROPILOT]

View attachment 227382 i just noticed yesterday my RF has some fungus. already having my dad get some athletes foot cream on his way home from work. i really should check more

It looks like an area that has rubbed through from walking over something rough.
And yes, I've seen fungus start in an area that has been rubbed previously. Maybe the area is more porous?
A quick dab of the anti-fungal will take care of it.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Like I mentioned earlier, there's no reason NOT to get some athletes foot cream and have it ready.
The $1 cream at the "Dollar store" has the same active ingredient as most others and at the same strength.......

 

[baldegale]

Like I mentioned earlier, there's no reason NOT to get some athletes foot cream and have it ready.
The $1 cream at the "Dollar store" has the same active ingredient as most others and at the same strength.......

i know exactly what its from, i have a 3”x12” piece of rough stone in there that i feed him on and he loves climbing all over it at all times of the time day. im definitely gonna keep it on hand now that i know how common it is

 

[baldegale]

i just used a toothbrush to help and try and get it off but i feel like it got worse?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I use a credit card or a wooden popsickle stick to scrape off any that will come off. Don't scrape too hard at it.

 

[baldegale]

I use a credit card or a wooden popsickle stick to scrape off any that will come off. Don't scrape too hard at it.

ill try that during tomorrow’s soaking. side note: i just noticed his black pattern on his plastron is shaped like a fish

 

[ZEROPILOT]

ill try that during tomorrow’s soaking. side note: i just noticed his black pattern on his plastron is shaped like a fish

If you've already cleaned it, I'd just leave it alone.
The cream will fix it.
It's cool to have unusual patterns.

 

[baldegale]

If you've already cleaned it, I'd just leave it alone.
The cream will fix it.
It's cool to have unusual patterns.

yeah i used a toothbrush, got some off but not much of the white stuff. could it possibly be scarring?

 

[baldegale]

update: its gotten worse. areas around the effected spots have started to chip away so its fully shell rot. just keep doing the same thing?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

update: its gotten worse. areas around the effected spots have started to chip away so its fully shell rot. just keep doing the same thing?

Post another photo.
Have you been scrubbing away at the area still? Treating with the cream every day or every two days? (either is fine) Just the cream?
It should not get worse. But it's common to not look any better for a while.
You may have to keep him warm, but on dry newspaper for a while. With soaks.

 

[baldegale]

Post another photo.
Have you been scrubbing away at the area still? Treating with the cream every day or every two days? (either is fine) Just the cream?
It should not get worse. But it's common to not look any better for a while.
You may have to keep him warm, but on dry newspaper for a while. With soaks.

i just scrubbed one more time, ive been doing the cream daily, it may be entirely possible that i just didnt see it cause its a very small amount.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

After the initial clean-up of any loose, cheesy fungus. Don't continue to scrub. Just the one time, if even then. It's not required.
Leave the area alone once it's been treated with the cream, or you'll interfere with the healing.
No more "scrubbing". No antibiotic creams. Just Athletes foot cream every day or every other day for about 10 days.
The results wont be too obvious at first.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Does this white on my RF look like fungus?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Does this white on my RF look like fungus?

No.
I don't believe it is.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

No.
I don't believe it is.

Thanks, whatever it is it's been there since I had him and it doesn't come off so I haven't been worried about it.