Skin conditions in terrapins

The skin is the largest organ of the body. Reptile skin is unique and has many functions which include protecting the body, providing camouflage and making vitamin D3.

When mammals grow their skin stretches and grows too. Reptiles are different; their skin is not as elasticated as mammal skin, so therefore does not stretch with growth. Therefore, the ability to shed skin is very important to your tortoise.

When it is time to shed, your terrapin will produce lymph fluid which separates the old and the new skin. When the legs start to shed, skin will begin to flake and come away in pieces. The shell sheds scutes, which are areas of hard skin that grows over the bones of the shell. As the terrapin grows the scutes become bigger.

Make sure that the temperature in your terrapin’s house is correct. If it is too cold he will struggle to shed and grow.

A balanced diet is essential for the skin to remain healthy. Any problems relating to shedding should be closely monitored and may require a visit to the veterinary practice.

Tumors and abscesses

If you find a lump or swelling on your terrapin, you should take him to the veterinary practice. To find out exactly what the growth is your veterinarian may want to take some samples to determine what the tumor is. A lump or swelling could be a tumor; some tumors are types of cancer that can spread, however the lump may be an abscess or a cyst. Surgery may be needed under general anesthesia to remove the lump.

Abscesses are lumps on the skin which are infected with bacteria or fungi; damaged skin is a common cause of infection. Check for sharp objects in the house and make sure all the furniture has smooth edges.

Correct temperature in your terrapin’s house will help him fight off infection. It is also vital to ensure your terrapins vivarium is kept as clean as possible with a good filtration system. A good balanced diet will also keep the immune system healthy.

If your terrapin develops an abscess he will need to have an operation to remove it. Abscesses of the ears are very common in terrapins and tortoises.

Fly strike

Fly strike is a condition seen mainly in terrapins that are kept outside. Any scratches or diarrhea that goes unnoticed attracts flies like the blue bottle and the green bottle. These flies lay their eggs in the damaged tissue and the larvae eat the flesh of the terrapin. This is even more common if you allow your terrapin to go outside in the summer.

Check your terrapin daily for wounds and make sure he is clean. Make sure his house has no feces or old food in it. It is also vital to ensure your terrapin’s vivarium is kept as clean as possible with a good filtration system. A good quality balanced diet prevents diarrhea.

The larvae will need to be removed and the wounds cleaned and treated with antibiotics. This can be very serious so if you see any signs of this you must take your terrapin to the veterinary practice immediately.

Nutritional skin disease

Poor diet can affect the skin. Terrapin’s skin needs vitamin A; too little of it causes the skin of the eyes and the mouth to become swollen. Poor sight will make it very difficult to see and therefore feeding becomes a challenge. Too much vitamin A in the diet causes the skin to become thickened and flaky. You may need to assist feed your terrapin if the sight of the terrapin is affected.

A diet with low calcium and low vitamin D3, can result in the body growing too quickly. This leads to weak bones and skin that will shed over and over again. To help your terrapin make vitamin D3, his UV bulb needs to have the correct strength and be in the right position (30-45cm away from the terrapin’s main basking spot. During the summer months an enclosure outside in the garden gives excellent exposure to UV light. Just remember if it is chilly at night, remember to bring your terrapin back inside! Terrapins that are fed a whole diet such as baby mice have less problems with vitamin D3 as they get it directly from their meal.

Most nutritional diseases require veterinary assistance, and your terrapin may need to be prescribed multivitamin treatments.

Growths

If you find any lump or swelling on your terrapin take him to the veterinary practice.

To find out exactly what the growth is your veterinarian may want to take samples and test them either in house or send them away to an external laboratory to determine what the growth is.

A growth might be a tumor and some tumors are types of cancer that can spread. However, the lumps may be abscesses or cysts.

Some growths can and may need to be surgically removed.

Terrapins are commonly bitten by dogs. These injuries can be very serious, so it is important to keep terrapins and their housing away from dogs, especially when outside in the garden.

Terrapins that live in cool temperatures without sufficient UV light, or terrapins receiving a poor diet, often develop a weak shell which makes the shell soft and spongy. If bitten by a dog, the dog’s teeth are then able to damage the shell and underlying soft tissue more easily. A good source of UV and calcium is vital to ensure the shell does not become soft.

If your terrapin has suffered any trauma or injury he must be taken to the veterinary practice to be checked and given necessary treatment. Damage to the shell could involve months of treatment which may include placement of a feeding tube and hospitalization at the veterinary practice.