While shell deformities in turtles may seem off and unusual, deformities in these animals can be quite common, deformities like your turtle shell bending up.
This article looks into why your turtle’s shell is bending up
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Why is my turtle’s shell bending up?
A healthy turtle has a shell that is flat and smooth all throughout, so, if you notice any shell disfiguration, if the shell becomes warped or starts to bend up, then your pet likely has an issue
Here is why your turtle’s shell may be bending up:
Overfeeding:
One of the reasons why your turtle’s shell may be turning up may be that you’re overfeeding your little pet.
If your pet is overweight, and is growing in size too quickly, then its shell likely can’t keep up with all this growth and it may curl up at the ends.
What to do:
Thankfully, overfeeding can quickly be rectified through portion control. Your pet will only be able to eat as much food as you feed it.
One way that you can practice portion control with your pet is by using the head method of feeding.
This involves imagining how much food would fit in your turtle’s head and feeding it this much food at each feeding.
This method will work with turtles of all ages and is also great for juvenile or baby turtles
Feeding your pet a well-balanced and nutritionally rich diet will also keep it in shape. Make sure you include leafy greens in your pet diet as well as turtle pellets, limited amounts of fruit, and some treats like small fish and insects
The upward curling of the shell will correct itself once you feed the animal normally and once the animal’s shell catches up with its body.
Lack of correct lighting:
Another reason why your pet’s shell may become upturned at the ends may be because it isn’t getting the correct lighting.
These animals need either direct sunlight or UVB light in order to produce vitamin D in their bodies, this vitamin keeps their bones (the shell included) solid and strong.
A lack of this vitamin causes a condition called metabolic bone disease.
Without enough vitamin D your pet’s shell may become curled up because it is so soft.
Metabolic bone disease can also develop if your pet is deficient in calcium, calcium helps maintain strong bones. MBD also develops if your pet has too much phosphorus in its body.
This concern can be debilitating for your pet so action needs to be taken to address the issue.
What to do:
MTB can be treated if it is diagnosed early and the correct treatments are given.
You’d have to start off by making sure that you’re using the correct bulb in your pet’s enclosure, namely a bulb that emits UVB light. This will help your pet produce vitamin D.
You’d then need to give your pet more calcium in the form of calcium supplements or a cuttlebone. Giving your pet less phosphorus in its diet will also help.
If all this doesn’t seem to be working for your pet then you’d need to consult a veterinarian or better yet, a herp specialist vet, for treatment options for your pet
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other turtle/tortoise related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Why Is My Tortoise Making Chirping Noises?, Why Is My Tortoise Squeaking And Not Eating?, Sulcata Tortoise Squeaking, Sulcata Tortoise Squeaking While Sleeping, Can Pyramiding On A Tortoise Be Reversed?, Why Is The Bottom Of My Turtle’s Shell Pink?, My Red-Eared Slider Keeps Opening His Mouth