Shedding?

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a red eared slider and he appears to be shedding?if turtles do shed. he is alwasy batting at his hed with his claws and there is always, what seems to be a flab of skin just hanging of his shell or his neck even his feet. is he shedding or is it a fungus?

ANSWER: Shedding happens, but if it is noticeable, then it is either stress-related shedding or fungi. It can be tough to tell the difference.

Try using "Turtle Sulfa Dip" per directions, OR using a fish medicine called "Stress Coat" (preferably with Aloe Vera).

If this does not help within a week, move to a more aggressive treatment. Clean the turtle with warm water, then swab the area with Betadine Solution (povidone iodine) and let it dry for a couple hours before returning it to the tank.

Also use a good site like http://www.redearslider.com to review the basic cares- water quality, temps, tank set-up, etc.

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QUESTION: Thank you Yes I t Is Reeally Showing Shedding There is now constantly skin hanging off his mouth or neck , and there is tons  floating in the water of his tank. it seems his appetite is decreasing does that have anything to do with the fungi or sheding?
ANSWER: This sounds stress or care related. Have you had the chance to review the website offered (or http://www.austinsturtlepage.com) to see if it is getting the right temps, diet, filtration, etc.?

I would really suggest doing a good audit of your care program to see if there is anything you can improve.

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QUESTION: Well i give hime 10 sticks a day and he is about 5-6 inches long in a 10 gallon tank with a basking lamp and a rock that stciks on the tank side with a heater ...occasionaly we will give him fish.
Is all that above normal?

Answer
10 sticks is kind of a lot. A daily serving should only be about the size of the head. Fish supplements are OK, but things like worms, crickets, krill (a favorite), etc. (look at the frozen foods for fish section of the pet shop.)

A 5-6" turtle should be in about a 60-75 gallon tank with a water heater and a filter rated for about 150 gallons.

You can learn more at the sites listed earlier.