Turtle Shell with White Spots

If your aquatic turtle has white spots on its shell, it can be due to different reasons. In this article, we will explain what white spots on the shell can be, reasons why they appear, and what to do if you have a turtle with white spots on its shell.

The shell of turtles is a protective structure that covers their body and is made up of two main parts: the plastron, which is the lower part, and the carapace, which is the upper part.

Índice del artículo

What are the white spots on my turtle’s shell?

Whitish spots can be caused by fungus on the shell. Aquatic turtles spend a lot of time in the water, so aquariums, paludariums, or turtle tanks can become a breeding ground for fungus if they are not properly maintained.

When a turtle has fungus, you can detect it because in the initial stage of infection, the shell is covered by a fine fuzz or, in more advanced stages, by white or gray spots, and sometimes even lumps or bumps may appear. If you reach an extreme case, please consult a veterinarian.

The best recommendation is to have an exotic animal veterinarian assess the situation, but if you cannot get an appointment with a professional, in this article we indicate what you can do if you are in the initial stage of infection.

White spots on the shell of a baby aquatic turtle — Growth marks of a baby aquatic turtle on its shell, which should not be confused with fungus. This is due to the rapid growth of the turtle.

Causes

Below we show possible causes of white spots on the shell:

When acquiring or adopting a turtle

If the turtle has not previously been kept in optimal conditions as we explained in the article about aquatic turtles, it may develop fungus. It is important that if we are going to add a new little turtle to our paludarium, we first keep it in quarantine to avoid introducing possible diseases, fungus, etc., into our habitat. If we have another turtle, there is a risk it could get sick.

Poor water quality

One of the main problems we can have is poor water quality, which is caused by infrequent water changes, very stagnant water, or insufficient filtration. The water will be full of harmful bacteria for our turtle, and as a result, it may get sick. Turtles dirty the water a lot, either with their feces or decomposing food remains.

It is always recommended to have a filter that circulates water at a rate of 6 times the volume of our paludarium or pond per hour. For example, if we have a 60-liter paludarium, we should have a filter that moves 300 liters per hour. Our recommendation is to use an external or waterfall filter. If you do not have a filter, it is advisable to change the water every 2 days.

Incorrect temperature

The water temperature must be correct to prevent fungus from proliferating. Ideally, the water should be between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius. To control the water temperature, we should provide a heater for turtles.

Lack of UV light

The absence of ultraviolet light for our turtles can be the cause of fungus appearing. If turtles do not have access to sunlight, they should be provided with a lamp with a UVB bulb. Fungus reproduces in humid environments like our turtles' habitat, so it is very important that they have UV light.

Treatment for white spots on the shell

As we mentioned earlier, it is best to see a specialist to assess your turtle's condition. In this section, we show you a series of tips you can follow.

Isolation

The first thing we should do is isolate our turtle so it is not in contact with another companion in its paludarium and cannot infect it, as fungus is very contagious. We always recommend having a turtle tank or aquarium to serve as a hospital if you have several turtles.

Cleaning the paludarium

We should do a complete water change in our paludarium, thoroughly cleaning the glass, stones, or other objects that are in contact with the water to eliminate fungus from the habitat where the turtle has been. The turtle is in contact with the water, and the water will carry the fungal spores to reproduce.

Dry and brush

Dry the turtle, and once it is dry, gently brush it with a soft toothbrush. Brush the entire shell.

Keep it dry

There are species of aquatic turtles that are very shy and timid, so sometimes they rarely go to the dry area even if it is ideal. If you notice that your turtle does not come out, take it to a dry area with sunlight or a UVB lamp and keep it there for about 45 to 60 minutes depending on the conditions. Important: if you take it out in the sun and it is very hot, make sure there is shade so it does not suffer from heatstroke. Always keep it supervised.

Salt baths

In a turtle tank or hospital aquarium, you can prepare a salt bath to eliminate fungus from the shell or skin of the turtle. For this, we recommend adding table salt to the water and keeping the turtle in it for about 30 minutes. The water level should not exceed the height of the shell so the turtle can keep its head out and its eyes do not get irritated. Once the time is up, empty the water, clean the container, and return the turtle to its natural conditions.

5% iodine

To eliminate fungus from the turtle, treat with a 5% iodine solution. First, dry the turtle completely, and then with a cotton swab, apply the iodine solution mixed with a little water to the shell or skin. It is important that it does not come into contact with the eyes or that the turtle does not ingest the iodine. Let the solution dry for about 30 to 60 minutes. Once the drying process is complete, rinse the turtle before putting it back in the water. The treatment should be repeated daily. Note: this is commonly available in many homes under the name Betadine.

Antifungal cream

This cream is another more specific and effective treatment than the previous one. The agent for removing white fungal spots from turtles is made from safe and environmentally friendly material, which is safe and healthy for the turtle. It does not affect water quality or aquatic turtles.

First, dry the turtles, moisten a cotton swab with an appropriate amount of antifungal cream, and apply it to the turtles' shell. Most white fungus disappears by applying it twice a day for 5 - 7 days. If the situation is especially severe, continue using it. It is recommended to continue using this product for 3 - 5 days after the symptoms disappear to consolidate the effect.