Turtle Fungus

Question
QUESTION: I have a similar story to a question already answered on another site "..but he has what appears to be algae or fungus growing on his skin,(white/light greenish color) when you look at him underwater. Mostly around the neck and head but also on his legs. He does not have any on his shell.He eats well, eliminates, and is very active. Do you have any ideas?". My baby turtle is an Eastern Painted turtle. I've had him for a couple of days and I guess his tank was dirty a little too long (but I do rinse is out completely every day and noticed it just now when I went to rinse the tank) and seems maybe have the fungus problem.. It's basically a white color and on his skin closer to the inside parts of his shell so when I took a toothbrush to it, it was difficult to reach and not with much success at all. I looked it up and one site actually had someone replying that they were told vinegar was added to the water and it helped but they weren't sure how much was used and what a proper equivalence would be. Thing is, I don't have a desk lamp as of yet for him to be able to bask under (though had a piece of wood) and I also don't have the money to invest in getting him medication. Is vinegar ok to use and what kind or any other home remedies with common around the house stuff? So I was thinking something to add to the water if possible and leave the tank outside so he could get sunlight..

ANSWER: Sara, I am going to tell you the same thing I told my last questioneer Take a breath!!! It has a small fungal infection it sounds like. The best and quickest way to get rid of this is to go to your local drug store and get betadine solution.  I want you to dilute it to about a 3% with dechlorinated water just leave it out in clean bowl or pan overnight and it will evaporate. I don't like to use chemicals like declorinators when they are not necessary . I try to do it as naturally as possible. Take it medicated water separate container soak it in it (warm) for about a half an hour. Do this for about 5 days twice a day. Rinse the baby very gently and well before returning to tank always, no toothbrushes you may cause bacterial infection from breaks in his soft skin. Now, most of the time this happens it is because of a dirty tank. You have decided to take on a very delicate creature even though they don't seem to be. We are going to talk habitat very important. We can start off the cheapest way o.k.but, as it grows so will the habitat you will have plenty of time to get piece by piece. They have such personality as they grow with you. Get a ten gallon tank right now probably about 10.00 . You need a grated top. Sometimes you can buy them together at like a wal-mart cheaper or order online. You will have to hit a pet shop for these things. A two bulb reptile hood. You will need to get a UVA bulb not a high wattage about a 25 watt right now and go with a red one this is more for heat and can be kept on all the time because even they need sleep time and the red don't disturb them but still keeps the heat going. What its not going to do is give him the ultra violet he needs so on the other side you will put a 50 watt UVB bulb this will be on at least 12 hours a day on when you get up off when you go to bed. This bulb helps it create d-3 which causes them to create calcium which they need plenty of especially as they are growing. These little ones are very prone to MBD (metabolic bone disease)this causes their bones not to be strong and their shell....broken toes are not uncommon with the wrong care. I know it seems like alot Sara but I have had my Henrietta for about 12 yrs shes a painter too and she is too kool !!! Because you are going with a small tank to start and your hood is forever your bulbs will grow as your tank does. Eventually a twenty high at least. They have preset heaters for turtles they are more expensive then a simple fish heater for now and you are going to have small tank. Again I'm going to say walmart or online. Also you are going to need filtration very important. You can get them both cheaper there and the temperature strip for the outside of your tank to keep it at about 72 to 76 degrees. You will do abit of adjusting to the cheaper heater til you get it set. So that first 24 hours your gonna keep him in a dishpan so we don't cook the baby. Lighting and keeping that tank warm and clean is the way to success. Make sure it has a dock of somekind of dock you can buy it make out of large rocks from outside. No Wood. Make sure you boil them for at least 29 to 30 minutes that is your UVA light side. They need to be able to dry completely and it helps in digestion and they need to relax and bask too!! Now that dishpan it is not going to waste. You are going to feed it in there from now on instead of in your tank it keeps your tank much cleaner. Make sure you have water that you maybe filled a couple of milk jugs and let them set for a couple days so the chlorine is gone warm it to as close to the same warmth of tank microwave some mix to touch and that there is enough that it can swallow while it eats or it may choke. Don't let them get picky in very small amounts right now try things. These guys are omnivorous. Try greens(mustard,turnip,collard,bok choy,romaine)they like albacore tuna but always the pellets baby right now. After they eat they usually poop pretty quick. Then return it to the tank. Never take tank outside possibly attracting something and causing a parasite to get into your tank and omgoodness then we have a problem. When it gets bigger you can sex it .....if the tail is long and thin and the front nails are long on a male. The tail is short and stubby and so are the nails on females. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask never a probably. Good Luck, Tina



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QUESTION: Thanks for getting back to me so quickly  :)  I'll inform you a bit more of my methods and his living space. I believe it's a 10 gallon tank that I have and filled with about 5 inches of water. He did have a piece of wood in there but I rinsed it off last night and left it outside to dry so he currently has nothing. The days that I've had the turtle so far, I've taken the tank outside every day and took a hose to it to rinse it out then fill back up. He didn't develop anything until yesterday, I'm assuming it's because his tank was dirty from all of the day before (after 10AM) till about midnight last night because I went to a concert. He's been eating crickets because it's free for me and I read that they eat them. Been given 2 a day, but I've been meaning to look up how much is too much/too little because that, I don't know. He's eaten the crickets well and haven't given him any problems as far as swallowing goes. Only downside is that it leaves cricket parts in the tank as a lovely view :P

I'm 17 without a job and a mother who won't help me out so I'm extremely limited on what I can get for him. I -might- still have red lightbulbs around the house somewhere but the last I saw was a black light laying out (in its box) so I'm not sure. I'm getting my desk lamp back from my mom's ex husband this Friday and I found good UVB lights on Ebay that are cheaper than stores but it's shipping that gets me.. It looks like I'll have to ask my Aunt for help, she works at Petsmart. If I can't use wood though, I'll have to find something else around the house. Because any rock big enough to stay above water will be huge and heavy..and crack the glass if not taken out and put back in with caution. I'm thinking something cheap and plastic that will work if I'm to buy anything. As for a filter, that's why I'm rinsing it out every day. All of these items will take time for me to get.

ANSWER: Sara ,  I am sorry it took me so long to get back to you this time. Do Not Put that wood in its tank. You are going to introduce parasites or mold.....I will get back to you as soon as I can later today to touch on everything else o.k. We will work this out hang in there., Tina

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QUESTION: Ok. Not a problem

Answer
Sara , I am so glad your Aunt works at petsmart ....she can get a discount . Also if there are extra sometimes and they need to clean out the backrooms for new animals and the hosp room she may be able to ask her petcare manager....that would be perfect. The red bulbs around the house may not be UVA so work on that kiddo. The wood if you have to use it fine if you can't find any large stones a few smaller to build a dock. The rocks will need to be boiled . Honey you are going to have to put this wood in the oven at 400 degrees for about about 45 to an hr....that will make sure it will be free of parasites. If you have too for now thats fine. Actually petsmart will help situations like this sometimes ...their most important thing to them is the animal. Usually its for sick or injured they have a self made obligation to the animal (they are great) and will give medicine. Let your Aunt explain see what she can do .....as long as appetite is god your fine....sick animals notoriously don't eat. I am proud of you keep going you'll get the habitat together going to try to find some sites that I am pretty shipping is not too bad if this doesn't wrk out. Tell your Aunt she has any questions about Petsmarts Policies and Procedures talk to me. Nothing but success will come from your effort. Keep me updated k Sara. , GOOD LUCK, Tina