Lack of calcium, a dirty environment, inadequate sunlight and excessive moisture can also cause irregularities in a turtle’s shell. Turtle shell problems can have many causes, from improper care to a poor diet to accidental injuries. Blood or discharge from a break or crack.Pits, divots or soft spots in the shell.Symptoms of turtle shell problems include…

Uneven growth of the scutes can cause pyramiding of the shell, which is a deformed shape, and shells can be cracked, split, chipped or broken just as bones can be. Shell rot is caused by bacterial or fungal infections. Just as other animals can develop problems with their fur and skin, turtles can develop problems with their shells. A turtle does not ever completely shed its shell, however, and cannot be removed from its shell. These outer layers of keratin, called scutes, will be shed as the turtle grows and new scutes are formed, and they protect the turtle from bruises and scrapes. The bones of the shell are covered with a thick layer of skin and hard layers of keratin, the same protein found that makes up hair and fingernails. Blood vessels and nerves run through the shell, and it protects the turtle’s vital organs. The back of the shell is called the carapace, and the belly of the shell is called the plastron. The shell of a turtle is more than just a covering, it is part of the animal’s skeleton and is made up of fused bones, including a number of ribs, the spine and the breastbone. Understand the shell and how to care for it safely and effectively is essential for every turtle or tortoise owner. A turtle’s shell is a critical part of its anatomy, and the shell needs proper care to keep your turtle healthy.

Box turtle shell