what is the best way to clean my paint turtles shell?

justy really lightly you don't want to irriate his shell pieces or scutes their called. Their shell is their skin so be gentle..just use water.

Increase his fish and veggies for the calcium and protein from the fish and Vitamin A from the veggies. leafy greens. Make sure he gets plenty of basking time.

http://flickr.com/photos/29035692@N03/sets/7215760...

Increase their food and make sure his tank is clean..

You need to feed them feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows for protein and calcium daily drop 20 or so in TOSS in a bird cuttle bone in the water for calcium that will promote better shell growth, it will dissolve real slow and if they eat it that’s fine!!

They can have garden worms, meal worms, snails, crickets, flies, crayfish small frogs, dragon flies and anything that moves, but only as a treat.

They need leafy greens Romaine, Butter lettuce. (Iceberg and cabbage are bad for them, any other leafy greens will do) for vitamin A that they need at least 3 to 4 times a week.

** Watch for any signs of shell issues..like shell rot white holes forming in the top shell,, respiratory sickness, lopsided swimming, coughing, blowing bubbles from their nose. Fungus white cotton patches on their skin? Pink under belly could be septicemia and that needs a vet.

**Swollen cloudy eyes which means lacking in Vitamin A. Which we all need for good eyes. Google ‘vegetables with Vitamin A.

Contact the “www.anapsid.org/societies, for a turtle vet / RESCUE in your city and state.

I wish you luck.

You can use a soft bristle tooth brush and a tiny bit of iodine free salt. Don't over scrub - you don't want to damage his shell, just get the 'scum' off. The salt will help kill the bacteria, and dissolves as you brush (be easy till it does).

You can wipe his legs and feet while he's in the water, if he's tolerant to handling while in water (don't get bit) with you fingers, but I wouldn't recommend doing anything to his skin other than that.

Good luck.

Scrub in a circular motion with water and a cloth or toothbrush.

DO NOT USE SOAP! Chemicals = bad.

Just get a cotton swab and wet it and add a little salt to help disinfect the shell. if its algae, its okay though

I scrub mine gently with a toothbrush and water. But the algea won't hurt him. :)