Unlike a hermit crab, a turtle is not able to trade in one shell for another if it's damaged or just doesn't fit anymore. The turtle's shell never falls off and is never too large or too small because it grows with the turtle. It's made from the turtle's rib cage and spine, and is attached to the internal bones of the turtle's body. Just as your vertebrae grow with you, the same is true for a turtle's shell.
For most species, as the turtle and its shell grow, the scutes on the shell shed or peel away to make way for newer, larger scutes. Shedding is a natural process, and scutes are cast off intermittently during daily activities such as swimming and basking. Since turtles are cold-blooded reptiles, they rely on external ways of heating and cooling themselves. Basking is nothing more than lying in the sun, and it happens to be a favorite turtle pastime.
While basking is one way turtles raise their body temperature, it helps them shed scutes by drying them up, leaving them ready to fall off. Some turtles, such as the South American river turtle lend each other a hand, well, specifically their jaw, in the shedding process by pulling loose scutes (and algae) off each other's shells [source: San Diego Zoo]. This is done gently, though, since both pain and pressure can be felt through the shell.
When old scutes aren't suitably shed or are shed too often, turtle shells can develop infection and disease. Dysecdysis, which is a fancy term for abnormal scute shedding, can cause infection. In rare instances, scutes are shed too frequently, leaving the bones of the shell unprotected and soft; abundant scute shedding has been linked to larger problems such as renal failure.
Shell health is also dependent on bone health. Metabolic bone disease, caused by inadequate calcium intake, poor exposure to sunlight, as well as diseases of the liver, kidneys and thyroid, can result in soft or misshapen shell bones. Ulcers (also known as shell rot), can cause permanent shell and scute deformities.
Shell disease doesn't occur as frequently as injury, however. Fractured shells are common and happen when turtles are hit by cars or attacked by wildlife. Some veterinarians are able to repair broken shells with bonding material, but one of the fantastic things about a turtle shell is that since it's made of living materials, it can slowly repair itself and regrow.
For more information about turtles and other reptiles, slowly peruse our list of related resources that follow.
Turtles and Salmonella
Turtles make popular but potentially deadly pets. Yes, deadly. Like most reptiles, turtles naturally have salmonella bacteria in their intestinal tract that are excreted in the feces. In humans, salmonella commonly causes fever, abdominal pain and severe diarrhea, and sometimes leads to life-threatening infections. Salmonella bacteria can’t be seen by the naked eye, and when people handle turtles, they put themselves at risk for disease.
"Molting in reptiles and amphibians." Forest Preserve District of Cook County. http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/natbltn/600-699/nb642.htm
"Reptiles & Amphibians." Smithsonian National Zoological Park. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Easternboxturtle.cfm
"Reptiles: Turtle & Tortoise." San Diego Zoo. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-turtle.html
"The Fright of the Iguana: Pet Reptiles Pose Risk of Salmonella Infection for Their Owners." U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 1997. http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/1997/797_rept.html
"Turtles and Salmonella." Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/TurtlesSalmonella/
The turtle's shell never falls off and is never too large or too small because it grows with the turtle. It's made from the turtle's rib cage and spine, and is attached to the internal bones of the turtle's body. Just as your vertebrae grow with you, the same is true for a turtle's shell.
As a turtle grows, his shell grows with him, much as our skeleton grows as we grow. As he grows, he will go through periods of molting where the scutes shed individually. It looks like a portion of the shell is peeling off. A new and larger scute develops underneath as the old scute sheds.
What happens to a fat turtle is that they can't pull their front legs and their back legs in at the same time- it's one set or the other! Really fat turtles/tortoises can't pull their legs in much at all. Yes it can, its not good. Basically the fat get pushed out in areas where there isnt shell.
A common myth regarding turtles is that they can leave their shell for another. However, this is not the case. Did you know that a turtle's shell is a made of bone and is a part of the turtle's spine? A turtle's shell is as much a part of its body as our skeleton is to ours.
The turtle's shell is bone, and like any other broken bone, shell fractures cause pain. In these cases, a small box or container can help prevent the turtle from moving around. It is not necessary to offer the turtle food, and it is best not to try to treat any injuries you observe.
Aside from possibly injuring the shell, it can be stressful on the turtle. DON'T hold a turtle with a soft shell (young turtles, species of turtles with naturally soft shells, turtles with diseases that make their shell soft) by the back edge of the shell. It can cause permanent damage.
A: Yes a turtle's shell does have feeling! If you scratch a turtle, he will feel it just as if you were scratching his skin. He can also feel pain through his shell. We've sadly seen many cases where humans have drilled holes in turtles' shells.
The short answer, is no! In fact, turtles and tortoises can not live without their shells. That is because turtles are vertebrates and their shells are fused with their bones. What is a vertebrate?
The shell may be soft, bumpy, or asymmetrical. The problem may be due to an inappropriate diet, too high in protein and fat, or a diet that is imbalanced in vitamins and minerals. The turtle also may not be getting adequate levels of ultraviolet light.
Turtles are happier in their natural homes in the wild.
Turtles and other reptiles sold in pet shops are either wild-caught (that is, stolen from their natural habitats) or bred in cramped, filthy breeding mills. Many do not survive the journey to the pet store, and those who do often arrive in poor health.
Some species may only live 10 to 20 years in captivity, while others can live up to 150 years. In general, most turtle and tortoise species can live well into their 50s if provided appropriate care. Most turtles and tortoises should ideally live much longer in captivity than in the wild.
A turtle will die very quickly without its shell, as the shell is part of the turtle's skeleton. It would be like removing your spine and ribs and then seeing how long you live.
The plastron has a movable hinge, which enables it to close tightly against the carapace to hide the head and limbs. A box turtles shell can regenerate and reform after damage or injury.
While you wait, place the turtle in a clean, dry container in a warm, shaded area away from predators, according to the Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue. Don't drive it anywhere new unless instructed to do so by animal specialists, and record the location where you found it.
Still, if people take the time to stop and make that critical call for help, the odds are in favor of the turtles surviving after they've been hit on the road, Testa said: About 85% recover and go home. The recovery process takes time, though. "Everything turtles do is slow," she said.
Considering the fact that the shell of tortoises and turtles literally make up their skeleton, fusing their exoskeleton to their ribs and spine, it's impossible to separate it from their bodies.
The plastron has a movable hinge, which enables it to close tightly against the carapace to hide the head and limbs. A box turtles shell can regenerate and reform after damage or injury.
No. All turtles and tortoises are born with one shell. They do not shed the shell, though some turtles may shed old scutes as new ones form. Turtles and tortoises can never leave their shells, so they can never change to a new one.
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