RED EAR SLIDER TURTLES SHELL

Question
MY TURTLE IS APPROX. 1 1/2 YEARS OLD.  I CLEAN HIS/HER 10 GALLON AQUARIUM WEEKLY.  I KEEP ABOUT 5 GALLONS OF WATER IN IT.  I PUT AQUARIUM SALT, A WATER TREATMENT FOR TURTLES, AND A BIO TREATMENT, ALSO FOR TURTLES, IN HIS WATER.  HE DOESN'T ACT OR LOOK SICK AND SWIMS A LOT.  BUT, HIS SHELL IS MY CONCERN.  YOU KNOW HOW THEY LOOK TO BE DIVIDED, I BELIEVE THEY'RE CALLED SCUTES.?  WELL, WITHIN SOME OF THE SCUTES IT LOOKS AS IF THERE ARE MORE SCUTES. I HAVE INSPECTED THEM AND THEY DON'T FEEL SOFT, I DON'T SEE ANY EXPOSED FLESH, AND THERE ISN'T A FOUL SMELL.  I'M WONDERING IF WHAT I HAVE EXPLAINED, IF IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU, IS NORMAL.  THANK YOU FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE TO HELP OR TO LET ME KNOW WHAT I DESCRIBED SOUNDS NORMAL.

Answer
Whenever people have a problem of any type, I always suggest they review the basic cares. In this case, I suggest http"//www.redearslider.com.

Tank size for turtles should run about 10 gallons of swimming space for each inch of turtle shell. Smaller tanks create health issues in many ways.

The shell's scales are indeed called 'scutes'. I am not sure what you are describing but it sounds like you are talking about the fact that new scutes are growing under old, smaller scutes all the time. When the new scute is readly, the old scute will fall off ('shed').

As long as the tissue under the shed scute is in good shape (clean-looking, no smell, no discharge, etc.), it is nothing to worry about usually.

You should also stop adding all that stuff to the water. You don't need any of that stuff if you are doing everything else right.

Good luck!