Tortoise shells are susceptible to fungal infections. This either presents itself as lesion on the shell typical in between two growth plates, or white spots and scars on the shell and especially on the plastron.

Treatment:

The best way to handle this condition is to use a soft wire brass brush to remove any white dry flaking on the shell in between growth plates and growth rings and ridges on the shell.

(there is a natural white growth ring (especially on smaller growing animals)
around each plate, Do not remove this white fibrous material.
Sometimes you will find a sap like hard deposit in between growth plates. This is the shell producing extra Keratin in an effort to repair its shell.

After a good brushing apply scarlet oil it leaves a nice smooth polished red tint, you can repeat every month if needed.

In server infections shell damage is evident and it may be necessary to be pretty aggressive brushing and even scraping hard accumulations on the shell. If the fungus has dug down through the top enamel of the shell you may see slight bleeding. This is the surface where the fungus chewed down to. At this point you should stop to minimize weeping of bleeding.

Apply antibacterial ointments to the shell.

Again, treat with Scarlet oil, you might not be able to treat the complete depth of the infection in one sitting.
Scarlet oil
https://www.amazon.com/Durvet-Scarlet-Oil-Sprayer-16/dp/B000HHJGBK/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?cv_ct_cx=Scarlet+Oil&dchild=1&keywords=Scarlet+Oil&pd_rd_i=B000HHJGBK&pd_rd_r=4c855d83-0465-469c-8b36-89b965c117f0&pd_rd_w=Kr6EC&pd_rd_wg=lwXXA&pf_rd_p=967d8720-e4cf-4d5d-9da3-53f47ca634a3&pf_rd_r=5Q3NT44PTJ4ZPAVR79P5&psc=1&qid=1585929375&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-1-dd5817a1-1ba7-46c2-8996-f96e7b0f409c

Brass brush
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-soft-grip-wide-brush-set-66812.html

you can use a soft wire brush to remove the Fungus

you can use betadine or Hydrogen peroxide during the brushing

its just a light brushing. In some cases you may see a tinge of blood.

This is normal, that’s how far the fungus has eaten into the shell.

 

spray with Scarlet oil https://www.amazon.com/Durvet-Scarlet-Oil-Sprayer-16/dp/B000HHJGBK/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.htJnzMDApVkQ9oaOdD62UaRA8m7hcSTCK08Gd0_oGaklfVPn4cYBovWdd5TuyWzjHwMeWTH8FutHKiWaD-M_CWJYYDqZElGBlx4mb8sve3jtfufa3Qie4EyN71b1Llz-CXbAd0Aw_J_kTMgDI7tdREQtpcpe4MfT-UhO7IXrClePeTIpCqvF34C6DpmqbUj7mHVilPQP5N-CAhLhM-exp5t6wR0NlLPIJHpq_GUPD2I.NwGMtKL7N8nWVCkRN6TZ8-Bv6LWzxh6oyImDD95lDw0&dib_tag=se&keywords=scarlet+oil&qid=1737501697&sr=8-3

 

use a soft wire brush.

https://www.harborfreight.com/detail-brush-set-3-piece-69638.html

or

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZXNY91J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Let me know if you have questions or if you want me to treat that animal for you the first time.

 

01/01/2022

Sam Pascucci

 

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