My turtle's shell is grey, not eating, and stays at the bottom. Help!
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Reptile | Aquatic Turtle | Male | unneutered
Finn’s shell is turning a grey sliver color. I provide proper uvb and basking areas and my other to turtles are perfectly fine. I’ve smelled his shell there is no scent and I can’t necessarily tell if it’s soft or not. Along with this he stays at the bottom of the tank and he’s fairly smaller then my other two turtles ,which may be female, I also don’t know how to tell if he’s eating enough. I feed all three once a day but he just stays at the bottom so idk if he’s eating enough to stay healthy.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on November 25th, 2018
You can use a soft bristled toothbrush and diluted Betadine or Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) to gently clean the shell. Allow for a 1 hour dry dock after each cleaning. If it is rot, you should begin to see improvement in a few days. Consider removing him from the main tank and placing him in a separate tank for feeding. This way, you can confirm he is getting enough to eat.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on March 18th, 2019
Thanks for reaching out about Loofa and including photos. If husbandry is adequate, then infectious or metabolic diseases need to be considered. Intestinal infections or parasites are common. Liver or kidney diseases can affect turtles also. A veterinary visit is recommended to assist with a diagnosis and treatment plan. In the meantime, soaking in 2-3 cm warm water might encourage drinking, urination or defecation. Good luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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