4171. Stress in a Metabolic Bone Disease red-eared slider. Change of ROUTINE as the caregiver went overseas for 2 weeks from 8 July 2025.

 

Why is my turtle's shell curving up?

Turtle shell curling up can be caused by several factors, such as overfeeding, lack of correct lighting, incorrect temperatures, or poor diet. These factors can affect the growth and health of your turtle's shell, which is made of bone and keratin.

 

The most common cause of a deformed shell is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). That is caused by insufficient UVB and/or a lack of calcium.

 

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Turtle shell curling up causes.
Metabolic Bone Disease

1. UVB lighting. Use a T5 linear UVB bulb, replacing it 6 monthly. Metabolic bone disease.
2. IMPROPER DIET.  Pellets once a day. Variety. Dried shrimp treats ocassional. Pyramiding shell (Raised scutes). Omnivorous at young age. Carnivorous in older ones.
3. IMPROPER ENVIRONMENT. Sufficient tank size, proper water temperature, amount of water, basking area, filtration (canister).
4. GENETIC CAUSE. Not preventable.

 1.  UVB light is essential for turtles to synthesize Vit D3 which helps them to absorb Calcium. Without sufficient UVB, they develop metabolic bone disease and shell deformities.

Symptoms: Curling shell, soft shell, lethargy.

Solution:
  UVB bulbs must be replaced 6 monthly as they lose their effectivenss.
  Use a T5 linear UVB bulb which is more effective than coil bulbs.
  Ensure it is directly above the basking area.

2.  IMPROPER DIET

Symptoms: Curling shell;, pyramiding (raised scutes), rapid growth.

Solution:
1.   Feed a varied diet including pellets, vegetables and occasional treats like shrimp. Reputable company’s pellets are recommended by vets.

 2. Fed once a day. Twice is overfeeding

3. Provide calcium supplements or cuttlebone.

 

3. IMPROPER ENVIRONMENT.

Symptoms: Curling shell, stress, aggression.

Solutions:
1. Tank is large enough. 10 gallons of water for every inch of shell.
2. Maintain proper water temperature (90 - 95) and a suitable basking area. There should be a gradient in the water temperature

3. A clean and well-filtered environment. A serious canister filter is recommended.

 

4. GENETIC FACTORS

Not preventable.

Symptoms: Consistent curling despite proper care. Once damage is there, it cannot be corrected. You can stop it from getting worse

5. ADDITIONAL TIPS:

1. Regular check-ups for signs of discomfort or illness.

2. Proper handling. No excessive handling - stress

3. Educate yourself about specific needs of your turtle species. 

 

UPDATE:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/07/4171-metabolic-bone-disease-in-red.html

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13 JULY 2025: Case study:
10-year-old female red-eared slider.
Curled up shell after one year of age. Now 10 years old.
Not eating from 9 July 2025 (Wednesday night) as 

caregiver had gone overseas. Stressed.

WHATSAPP MSG FROM OWNER. 13 July 2025:

Hi sorry to disturb. I phoned 6254 3326 four times but no one picked up. I would like to bring in my turtle for an appointment as soon as possible. May I ask when is the earliest possible time?

Started showing disinterest in food on Wednesday night (9 July 2025). But still munches and swallows some. Her favourite worms are chewed (maybe swallowed to a certain extent) and spat out. Fed her some papaya because she had shown difficulty pooping and she pooped one small hard lump. (My mom suggested I put her tank back into the toilet for the night since that was her usual routine, and I had been bringing her back to my sisters room instead for the night since the toilet had soap. continued to do so for the next few nights)

Next day tried to entice her with food again. Gave her some papaya. Chewed and spat. Cannot tell if swallowed. Changed her water to warm water and she pooped two lumps. Stool still harder than usual.

Friday. Did not eat and did not poop even after warm water soak. I put her in the tank and placed it in the toilet for night time as per her previous routine. When I went to check on her tomorrow morning I tried giving her some banana to see if she had regained her spirits and she ate a small bite. Freed her and let her walk to her usual spot. At 4-5 pm I went to check on her in my sisters room and found she wasn’t at her usual spot but at the place we put her tank for feeding time close by. She was visibly stressed and squeezed her limbs tightly and was breathing heavily. I observed her from a close distance and she made a loud noise once which was very alarming

Heavy breathing very stressed
Did something similar to this. Has seen her doing this only a handful of times this year. Always happens when she shows signs of being very stressed (runs to a spot and exhales sharply with mouth open) But usually does not present with any other abnormal behavior and goes back to normal when she is calm.

 

Usual routine: fed once every 2 days level spoon. A few drops of vitamin A supplement. 3-5 worms every 2 days. UVB lamp every day for at least 4 hours. Calcium supplement once a week. 

Usual personality: will come when summoned. Comfortable with being handled. Very excited about food. Still willing to bask at least 20min on days with sunlight

Possible reasons:
Loud fish pump?
Favourite human gone for over a week (Her sister went overseas till 22 July)

No natural sun? (Do I force her to bask? Is the current lamp even useful?)
Constipated? (Does poop but stool is abnormally hard and she visibly exerts a lot of effort to push it out)
Change in routine?
 

Medical history:
10 y/o female. 
Suffered from MBD as a baby. Curling up shell started from one year of age.
 
Once refused to eat for very long because of a change in tank. 
Loss of appetite once (end 2024?) regained it after around a week
Pooped Sunday morning went to grind shell upon release
Poop contained many hard pieces of calcium
 

Do you want to make appointment with Toa Payoh Vets? Yes. Thank you so much!
I called the clinic just now and they picked up and I made an appointment for 11:45am. Thank you.
Walking
Usual set up for feeding time.

 

 COMMENTS

1. Caregiver (sister) had gone overseas from 8 July and will be back on 22 July. Slider was affected by

change of daily routine --- stressed.  Consulted me on Sunday 13 July to make appointment with Toa Payoh Vets.

2. 14 July 2025. I had advised owner to buy Critical Care and syringe feed yesterday.
Owner can't syringe feed Critical Care as slider would not open her mouth. 
Slider did poop and look more active today 14 July 2025 at 11 am. Video at 10.38am see below:

 

Video on 14 July 2025 around 11 am. Looks more active.

 

 

X-RAYS DID NOT SHOW ANY CONSTIPATION 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Below are two videos on 13 July 2025. Stressed appearance. Heavy breathing.

 

Can't download videos. 

 

Images below

 

 

Dried worms and shrimps should be occasional treats 

 

 

UV light at night for 4 hours daily.

 

 

 

coiled UV bulbs, not linear ones.

 

 

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15 July 2025:
 

 

 

Good morning. Is your slider back to normal? Please re- send the first 2 videos showing her stressed and breathing fast as I cannot download them

Not yet. She was stressed from the vet visit and X-ray yesterday but she has been significantly calmer after Friday. 

There was nothing wrong with her lungs and GI tract according to the X-ray. 

Unfortunately this is the only video I have left of her being stressed because my phone ran out of storage from all the videos I was recording of her and I had to delete some longer video notes.