redeared slider

Question
Hello again, you've given me so much information and help I hate to bother you. I don't know where else to turn. I'm treating the fungus on my little girl as you suggested. However while doing so I found yet another problem I didn't even know she had. While having her out of the water her shell dried, as it should being out of the water. The top of her shell is all dry and pealing away.(I did know she had one spot on her shell on the edge) I put her back in the water. (she was only out about 8 to 10 minutes and her shell looked like she'd been out for hours.) I don't know if I should keep her wet or dry? I guess I'm in way over my head. I've never had any problems with my other turtle this is all new. My fish all seem to be fine.
Thank you once again for your time, Terri


Answer
I think this is the same quote I already shot you, but I don't remember if I included all of it or not.

From www.tortoise.org-
"Fungus appears as white or gray specks, furry spots or lumps on the fleshy parts. Adding 1/4 cup table salt to each five gallons of water is a good preventative. Fungus remedies sold for tropical fish can be added to the water.

Shell and skin fungus can be painted with 2% gentian violet and allowed to dry for 6 hours before putting the turtle back into clean water. Natural sunlight is beneficial, but be careful not to let the turtle overheat.

Shell rot is a serious problem. Symptoms include a discoloration under the shell surface, soft or spongy areas on the shell surface, and discharge of a rotten smelling liquid when the area is squeezed. The rotted areas must be scraped clean, and covered with Gentocin or Polysporin ointment for 3 days. The treated area is then painted with gentian violet every 2 days until it dries out.

During treatment the turtle is kept out of water except for a daily soaking and during feeding."


Keeping a turtle in a 'dry cage' (except for soaks and feeding as noted) is actually pretty helpful for ill turtles, and will greatly help in clearing up any shell rot.

Shell rot can be caused by many things- poor water quality, too little UV and infrared light, shellfish in the water, etc. IF you can figure out the cause, you can prevent it in the future but the basic treatment is about the same for most causes.

It is also possible that this one turtle is just in pretty poor shape overall and is very susceptible to a wider variety of illnesses.