soft turtle shell

[Shonfield]

hi
i picked up a hatchling turtle on sunday and just noticed the the back of its shell above its tail is kinda soft. it can bend up + down and i just felt it and lightly bent it (maybe a millimetre or two) and it was really soft. is this a problem and what is it caused by? my guess would be lack of uv but i have a uv light on it for atleast 9hours a day usually 12. unless the breeder didnt have uv for it or something?
thanks,
sam

 

[Kitah]

Edit: ignore me.. musta heard the wrong thing off an american forum (s'prise sprise)

 

[melgalea]

i didnt think turtles shell should be soft regardless of age.
when i got 2 young saw shells a few years back there shells were very soft, so i upped the use of uv and made sure thy got lots of calcium. and within 2 weeks the shell was hard.
does the shell smell grose at all. cause when mine had it, there shell smelt ferrel.

 

[Vincent21]

If they have a soft shell it would be because of

- lack of diet
- lack of basking

If you would like more info go to this site: http://www.australianfreshwaterturtles.com.au/forum/index.php

 

[-Peter]

or its a hatchling and the shell hasn't hardened yet.

http://www.australianfreshwaterturtles.com.au/index.php

 

[scorps]

or its a hatchling and the shell hasn't hardened yet.

http://www.australianfreshwaterturtles.com.au/index.php

If it is a hatchling IMO i think it was very irresponsible for the breeder to sell someone a hatchling turtle who's shell hasn't hardened up yet, although i though they hardened up pretty fast.

Scrops

 

[-Peter]

Depends on its age. They stay rubbery for quite a while.

 

[hornet]

yea, if its young its shell will be a little pliable.

 

[-Peter]

pliable, thats the word i was looking for =P

 

[Shonfield]

its about a month old (i think) bit bigger then a 20c piece atm.

 

[-Peter]

its about a month old (i think) bit bigger then a 20c piece atm.

That would make sense then. Just keep an eye on it .

 

[largeheaded1]

yea keep an eye on it dude...if it stays like that let us kno!

 

[Shonfield]

alright thanks for the info. hope it will be ok