Why is my red slider turtle's tail short and round? Is it injured?

Separate them if you can to allow healing. Keep the water as clean as possible to prevent infection. Clean the area daily with a diluted betadine or chlorhexidine solution then allow for a 1-2 hour dry dock (out of the water) period. If the wound doesn't heal or if Sammy becomes lethargic or stops eating, then have your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet perform an exam and administer treatment as indicated.

Nubbins should be examined by an experienced herp veterinarian. Any open wounds are at risk of infection. They wounds should be properly cleaned and antibiotics administered if indicated. Dry docking him is the right thing to do until the wounds heal. He will need to be placed in water for about an hour a day to eat, rehydrate and defecate. Follow the link for a care sheet: http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

They do shed their skin occasionally, usually in pieces. This may be what you are seeing. If looks more dull these past couple days, it could be the beginning of a shed cycle. Monitor for lethargy or decreased appetite. Soak or mist him daily to aid shedding. If he doesn't shed, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Other possible explanations would be infection or injury. These would need a physical exam to confirm.

It looks like he has an injury on his toe or foot. A close up image would be needed to determine where the injury is located. A physical exam with your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet would be recommended to diagnose and treat any infection. Raphael may need antibiotics. For now, keep the water in the tank as clean as possible. Rinse the foot a couple times daily with diluted betadine or chlorhexidine solution. Allow a 1-2 hour dry docking after each cleaning. Monitor for lethargy or decreased appetite. Confirm proper environmental parameters. Consider increasing tank temps by about 5-10 degrees F to aid in recovery.

Without an image, it is difficult to determine what is going on. Ideally, you should have the turtle physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. He or she may be able to diagnose and treat the underlying cause. In the meantime, maintain pristine water quality and proper environmental parameters. Keep water depth at no more than twice the length of the shell. Provide a UVB light source, filtration and a water heater. Feed a balanced diet including protein (feeder fish, nightcrawlers, etc), fresh greens and vegetables and commercial pellets. You can review slider care at the links below. (Yes, they say Red Eared Slider, but care for Yellow Bellied Sliders is the same). http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

It may be local infection or irritation. Female sliders can be territorial, so injury is also a possibility. If Jenny is behaving normally, you can monitor the spot at home. Maintain pristine water conditions. You can gently cleanse the area daily using a diluted betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution followed by a 1-2 hour dry dock. If the spot doesn't clear up, have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Yes, Jenny is female. Short nails on the front limbs and the thin tail are indicative of a female slider.

It appears as if Franklin is missing a pectoral scute. This can be due to trauma, infection or a combination of the two. A turtle can develop infection from something as "minor" as a scratch on the shell. Have Franklin examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. He may need treatment and systemic antibiotics. In the meantime, maintain pristine water quality which will aid in healing and limit secondary infection and other complications. Consider increasing ambient temps by a few degrees to aid in recovery. Franklin may ultimately need to be dry docked (kept out of water) for most of the day until he heals.