A turtle’s shell can be dark green, brown or black. If it looks white, then something is definitely wrong. Don’t panic! Let’s find out why turtle shells have white spots.

Why Are There White Spots On My Turtle’s Shell?

White spots on turtle shells may be caused by medical conditions or the environment. It is usually caused by shell rots, hard water buildup, or fungal infections. Also, turtles can develop white spots from insufficient light.

Let’s now look at all of the reasons.

Shell Rot in Turtles

White spots on turtle shells can be caused by shell rot, which is one of most serious and common problems. Shell rot can be fatal if it is not addressed promptly. It can be treated with prompt intervention. This happens when a cut or wound is not treated promptly.

How Does Shell Rot In Turtles Look Like?

The shell rot of turtles is often characterized by white spots all over the shell. The white spots found on turtle shells usually indicate leaking fluid. It is possible to see shell fragments falling off. You can also see bits of flesh that have fallen off the scute.

It would also be very unpleasant to smell the wounds. Shell rot can be easily identified by the severity of the condition.

What Causes Shell Rot In Turtles?

Shell rot in turtles is a serious medical problem. Shell rot can occur from a variety of factors, including shell cracks, sustained injuries, and dirty environments. The reptile can look healthy if it is only mildly affected by shell rot and will continue to be active.

Let’s take a closer look at the reasons:

Injuries

Although turtle shells are strong and durable for the most part, they can sustain serious injuries. It could be due to a fight with another turtle. These fights are more common in males. These fights can lead to injuries that, if not noticed, can cause serious problems down the road.

Cracks in Turtle Shells

There are many reasons why a turtle’s shell may crack. This can be caused by suboptimal temperature or humidity in the enclosure.

A turtle species that is adapted to humid environments may experience skin or shell damage if the substrate becomes too dry.

A species that lives in a very dry environment will experience softening of its outer shell if the substrate becomes too moist. This creates an entry point for infectious agents.

The shell cracks can also be caused by poor nutrition, inadequate heating, or sharp objects within the enclosure.

Shell rot can also occur if cracks aren’t treated promptly.

Poor tank environment

Because turtles love to eat and urinate in the water, it is easy for their tank to get dirty. You will need to change the water often and make sure that your filtration system is strong.

Shell rot is more common in species with soft shells like the red-eared slider.

In addition to dirty water, moldy or soiled bedding can also cause fungal or bacterial shell rot. Don’t forget about cleaning that too.

Can Shell Rot Kill Turtles?

When shell rot causes shell cracking, bacteria can enter your bloodstream and cause septicemia. It can also cause death in a matter of days.

Turtle shell rot, which can cause disease in the living tissue beneath the outer shell layer, is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Untreated abscesses can lead to tissue damage and worsening over time.

The shell rot can also lead to severe conditions such as septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease. This is caused by rapid growth of bacteria within the bloodstream. It can cause serious illness if the bacteria in the bloodstream of the reptile attacks the vital organs.

How To Treat Turtle Shell Rot At Home?

You can treat shell rot at home if it is a mild, simple case.

You must first determine the cause of the shell rot, and then address it. It could be due to sharp objects, poor water conditions or aggressive tank mates. The turtle should be removed from the tank. Once the shell has fully healed, keep it dry. He can only get wet if you clean the shell.

To remove any algae, dirt or broken pieces from the outermost shell plate layer, you should use hypoallergenic soap.

After you have removed the dirt layer, it is easy to remove the pits. If they aren’t coming out easily, don’t force them. You can use a plastic credit to treat the dry white spots.

You can disinfect the turtle’s shell with a general antiseptic after it has dried. A chlorhexidine solution can be used in place of hydrogen peroxide. This is because it protects epithelial cells and slows down the healing process.

After the turtle shell has been cleaned, apply a silver sulfadiazine healing cream. It is recommended that you consult your veterinarian before applying the cream.

Finally, let your turtle relax for at least 25 mins after you have finished the bath.

This process can be completed for up to a week to remove the white spots from the turtle shell.

When To Take Turtle With Shell Rot To The Vet?

Your turtle should not show any improvement after just a few weeks of home treatment. You must immediately take him to the veterinarian. SCUD is a very serious and potentially fatal condition.

Seek out a veterinarian’s assistance if you notice pus emerging from the wounds, or reddish areas underneath the shell. This is a sign that the infection is too severe to treat at home.

Most likely, your vet will recommend some antibiotic injections and anesthesia.

Hard Water

Although it may sound strange, hard water can be one of many reasons for white spots on turtle shells. This is where the shell is often evenly coated with white. A portion of the shell, which is usually the bottom half, could be covered with white patches.

These spots can be found in the turtle shell’s raised edges or ends. This bright white spot can be easily removed by gentle scrubbing.

Apply a little vinegar to the area and check if it fizzes. Calcium carbonate in hard water can cause white spots.

If you notice any irritation or moisture around the spots, do not use the vinegar method. It will be too painful for your turtle. Make sure the vinegar does not reach the eyes.

Your turtle may shed if the white spots are due to hard water. You can sometimes see the transparent parts of the scutes when they are peeling.

There is so much talk about hard water. But what does that actually mean?

What is Hard Water?

Hard water is water that has a high level of minerals, such as calcium or magnesium. Hard water is water that has a high concentration of minerals. The water then disintegrates and leaves behind trace minerals.

These mineral traces can be found on sinks, bathtubs and shower faucets.

The majority of water that runs through American taps is hard water. This is due to the presence of limestone-rich areas in the past.

How To Fix White Spots In Turtle’s Shell from Hard Water?

This is a simple one and can be done in just a few steps. You will need to use distilled water, or water that has been treated with a water conditioner.

No matter what water you use make sure you don’t completely replace hard water. This will cause your turtle to experience an environmental shock.

Start by giving your turtle 25% of the water you change, so they can adjust. You’ll notice a reduction in white spots on turtle shells once you have replaced the hard water.

Apple cider vinegar solution can be applied to the shell to accelerate the process.

Add a few drops apple cider vinegar to water and stir it well. Then, use a soft toothbrush to clean the shell. You should be able remove the spots quickly.

If you notice any lesions, rashes or injuries in your shell during the process, stop immediately.

Fungal Infection In Turtles

A fungal infection of turtles can look like raised green spots on the shell, along with gray and white fuzzy patches. It is usually caused by poor tank conditions. A fungal infection can usually be prevented by being treated promptly and being spotted early.

The white patches usually occur due to skin shedding. However, if the shell is equally coated, it is likely that you have fungal infection.

There are other ways to spot it. You can often tell if the infection rate is high by looking at it. It is usually due to infection if the spots appear to grow larger each day.

How Do Turtles Get Fungal Infection?

Fungal infections can be quite common and are not very dangerous if caught early. First, it is important to understand the main causes. Poor water quality and inadequate basking areas are the most common causes.

Because turtles love to eat and poo in the water, it is easy for their tank to get dirty.

This means that both the uncooked food and the waste produced will be able to fall into the tank’s bottom. This creates the ideal environment for bacteria growth. This encourages fungal infection.

The turtle tank should be kept clean and maintained at all times.

You could encourage fungal growth if the turtle’s water is warm.

Another reason for fungal infections in turtles is that they don’t get enough sun.

It could be that the area is too small or poorly lit.

If your turtle basks solely from lamps, ensure that the lamp is strong enough to meet all requirements.

How To Treat Fungal Infections In Turtles?

Although fungal infections can be easily treated, they are also preventable. It will require a little more effort than just replacing hard water. You can give the turtle a salt bath or clean the enclosure and tank.

Salt Bath For Turtles

Salt baths are a quick and easy way to stop fungus growth. They work best in warm, humid areas. You will need a sponge and bath salt.

Terrapins such as red-eared turtles should keep the water temperature between 75 and 85 F.

For 5 gallons of water, you will need approximately 1/4 cup bathing salt. After filling the large container with salt and water, remove the turtle from the tank and place him in the bathing tub.

Allow him to sit down for between 40 and 45 minutes. The salt will kill the virus and disinfect punctures.

Don’t dry your turtle with a towel after he’s finished bathing. Let the body soak in the solution.

This routine can be repeated daily for approximately 2 weeks to prevent further infections.

Turtle Cleansing With Soap And Iodine

Make sure you inspect your turtle for signs of injury before you use soap and iodine to clean it. You’re doing your turtle more damage than good if there are new cuts and wounds.

If the turtle isn’t suffering from any injuries, you can place him in a large container or use a bath rub to clean the shell. It’s best to avoid putting turtles in the sink as they are more likely to carry salmonella.

A Betadine solution, hypoallergenic soap and a soft-bristled tooth brush are required. The soap must not contain any fragrances.

Use the soap and toothbrush to gently clean the shell.

You should make sure the fungus is completely wet, but don’t use too much soap.

After cleaning the shell thoroughly, rinse the turtle with clean water. Then let him dry under a lamp. You can now gently pat dry the turtle.

Once he’s completely dried, apply the diluted solution to the shell with a cotton pad or buds. Betadine is a great choice for all reptiles.

Make the Betadine mixture by mixing 10 parts water with 1 part Betadine. Once you have applied the diluted solution of iodine, wipe it off gently.

Apply Betadine lotion to the turtle and allow it to air dry.

Cleaning The Tank

We know that fungal infections can be caused by a dirty tank. It is important to clean it regularly. Depending on the tank’s state, you will need to do partial or complete water changes.

Insufficient UV Light

White spots on turtle shells can also be caused by insufficient UV light. This is where you will not see white spots randomly appearing on the turtle shells, but rather a general fading in the shell’s otherwise dark colors.

Even though such cases are rare, it is possible.

You may notice that the turtle’s shell is becoming duller and losing more pigment. This could be due to not getting enough UV-B sunlight.

This could mean that the light source is too weak or the spot for basking is too small.

To correct the problem, make sure you have a good UV-B light.

Here’s one I use:

Conclusion On Why Are There White Spots On Turtle Shell

White spots on turtleshells can be a common problem that can affect a turtle’s ability to function properly. These spots can be caused by a variety of environmental and medical reasons. The causes of spots can also affect their severity and appearance.

The white marks caused by hard water, for example, are not considered grave. The shell can be easily cleaned with diluted apple cider vinegar. White spots can be prevented by switching to distilled water or conditioned waters in the future.

However, shell rots and infections can cause white spots on the shell. If they aren’t treated promptly, it can lead to serious consequences. If the turtle is not treated promptly for shell rot, it could lead to septicemia, which can be life-threatening.

Last but not least, lack of proper lighting can also cause the shell to lose its color, making it appear lighter and less vibrant.