A change in how your turtle looks will alert you that there is something going on with your pet, and if you see a change you may assume that the animal is getting sick.
This article looks into why your turtle’s shell may be turning pink
Table of Contents
Why is my turtle’s shell turning pink?
Seeing pink on your pet’s shell is not normal, the shells of these animals are usually black, brown, or green, pink not so much. Understanding why your turtle’s shell is pink is needed before taking any measures to remedy the issue
Here is the reason why your turtle’s shell may be turning pink
Growing turtle:
Growth in baby turtles happens very fast, faster than many people expect. Not only will your pet turtle change in size as it grows but it will change in appearance as well, the animal’s shell will start to look pink while growing
The pink area that you see in your young growing turtle is the new tissue of the shell. The shell grows quite quickly and because of this, the blood vessels that are below the shell can be seen through this new thin shell layer.
The pink that you’ll see on the seams/ growth lines of the turtle will be light pink during growth.
What to do:
This is something positive. It simply means that your pet’s shell is growing as it should be, turtles are meant to grow fast.
Just make sure that the animal is eating well and is eating as it should, this will ensure that the animal grows fast and healthy. The shell will take on a darker color as the turtle ages.
Sepsis:
If the pink on your pet’s shell is a deeper pink, or even red, then the animal may have sepsis, this condition is also called septicemia or blood poisoning.
The bacteria that causes this condition will infect your turtle’s whole body causing a number of unpleasant symptoms
Other signs of this condition in your pet include a loss of appetite, lethargy, and red/pink on the plastron.
What to do:
This is quite a serious condition, unfortunately, many turtles get it and unfortunately, it can’t be treated at home, it needs to be treated by a vet.
The vet will be able to examine, test, and diagnose the animal and then give it antibiotics as a treatment. Other therapies may also be needed if your paper has this condition.
It’s always recommended that you take your pet to a reptile specialist vet, if you can’t find one in your area then you can request that your vet take a conference call with a reptile specialist vet and the specialist will guide your local vet on what to do.
If you can’t immediately get your pet to the vet then you can clean the area twice a day with saline, pat dry then apply neosporin or polysporin to the area until you can get the animal to the vet. When doing this rub the treatment well and wipe off the excess.
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 The Bottom Of My Turtle’s Shell Pink?, Why Is My Turtle’s Shell Turning Silver?, Why Is My Turtle’s Shell Turning Gold?, Why Is My Turtle’s Skin Turning Pink?
