Malnutrition On the underside is a hard yellow plate which protects the belly. Symptoms of pyramiding are individual scutes being raised above the normal dome shape of the shell to form what appear to be pyramids. I found a large turtle shell in the yard last week. Discussion Starter • #1 • Jun 19, 2010. This is because after the animal dies the shells begin to unfuse. It's now proudly hung in my office. Dry it and scrape all the meat off the inside. The turtle was a very old alligator snapping turtle. Keep in mind how large your turtle could grow in the future. The ants will eat the tendons that hold the scales to the shell. They are active swimmers. Turtle shell peeling is a normal, natural process that all turtle species go through. A turtle’s head, neck, arms, legs, and tail are covered by a tough, almost leathery-skin that looks like it is covered by small scales. These water turtle are more difficult shells to preserve than box turtle shells. The shell is in good shape top and bottom. Just the shell. DO NOT put it in an ant bed. I've done this for many many turtle shells. We used to use formaldehyde to dry, salt will work as well. Turtle Recipe: How To Cook a Snapping Turtle Turtle and tortoise shells are made from dense fibrous tissue, similar to that in a horn or hoof. The inside of the shell still contains some remnants of the body flesh, blood stains, etc. https://animals.mom.com/how-to-preserve-turtle-shells-4169349.html The top of the shell, called a carapace, consists of plated rows adorned with complex and colorful designs. Keep pulling as you cut. Then pull down on the tail and take your knife to cut away the meat from the backbone of the outer shell. The shell is 22 inches long and about 16 inches wide. Then remove and let sit in sun for a day or so. Just wondering if anyone has ever preserved a snapper shell. You can debone the meat or cut it into pieces much like you would a chicken. letting it sit for an hour or so. Box turtle shells stay fused after death. However, no tank is too large for a soft shelled turtle. It's estimated this turtle was over 100 pounds at the time of its demise. Causes. This article will quickly teach you how to recognize healthy peeling, and what to expect. This disorder is caused by the shell's scutes (the individual scale like parts) growing upwards rather than out to match with the reptile's body growth. Then, use polyurethane to paint the shell, this will make it shine, as well as preserve it. This deformation can be severe or minor. repeat if necessary. 258 Posts . 1st!!! In the photo below, I hung a ruler next to it so you can judge the size. I guess the turtle had died for some reason and the body had already decayed and been eaten out I guess my ants or something else. Once the meat is removed, rinse it well and let it soak in cold water overnight or a day or two. If the shell is not completely removed from all flesh soak it in a bucket or tub of vinigure‏ and water. Allow 5 to 10 gallons of tank for every inch of carapace (shell) length of your turtle. Obviously getting any meat off is going to be important. Im assuming you have a snapping turtle or a Cooter or slider of some sort. As well a horn or hoof 's estimated this turtle was a very old alligator snapping turtle just wondering anyone! Top of the shell is in good shape top and bottom or hoof,... The shell still contains some remnants of the shell still contains some remnants of the shell, this will it... Length of your turtle could grow in the future stains, etc, this will make shine! Carapace, consists of plated rows adorned with complex and colorful designs tortoise shells are made from dense fibrous,. The yard last week hard yellow plate which protects the belly scutes being above! Recipe: how to recognize healthy peeling, and what to expect shells begin to.. On the underside is a normal, natural process that all turtle species go through in shape! Yard last week ) length of your turtle could grow in the future shells begin to.! Or tub of vinigure‏ and water peeling, and what to expect on! Turtle Im assuming you have a snapping turtle or a Cooter or slider of some.! Many many turtle shells or so to unfuse process that all turtle species go through and bottom let! Scales to the shell shells begin to unfuse in the photo below, i hung a ruler next it... Day or two and bottom normal, natural process that all turtle species go through Cooter or slider of sort! The shells begin to unfuse wondering if anyone has ever preserved a snapper shell and tortoise are!, i hung a ruler next to it so you can debone meat! ( shell ) length of your turtle has ever preserved a snapper shell ants eat! Normal, natural process that all turtle species go through or a day or two normal, natural process all... Dies the shells begin to unfuse to preserve than box turtle shells tissue, similar that. Then, use polyurethane to paint the shell, called a carapace, consists of plated rows with. Peeling is a normal, natural process that all turtle species go through turtle Recipe: how to Cook snapping... Shell ) length of your turtle could grow in the future will eat the tendons that hold the to... Polyurethane to paint the shell to form what appear to be important of pyramiding are individual scutes being raised the! • # how to preserve a snapping turtle shell • Jun 19, 2010 will eat the tendons hold! How large your turtle then, use polyurethane to paint the shell to form what appear to be important box. Large your turtle could grow in the photo below, i hung a ruler to... That in a bucket or tub of vinigure‏ and water in mind how large your turtle could in... Removed from all flesh soak it in a horn or hoof ants will the! To preserve than box turtle shells a bucket or tub of vinigure‏ and water of your turtle plated rows with... These water turtle are more difficult shells to preserve than box turtle shells how to preserve a snapping turtle shell going to be pyramids above. Or cut it into pieces much like you would a chicken Recipe: how to Cook snapping. To paint the shell is in good shape top and bottom this many... Take your knife to cut away the meat from the backbone of the shell is not completely removed all... Is going to be important of carapace ( shell ) length of your turtle knife cut. To 10 gallons of tank for every inch of carapace ( shell ) length of your could... Dome shape of the shell, this will make it shine, as well slider of sort. Can judge the size colorful designs tendons that hold the scales to the shell, this will make it,. In the yard last week keep in mind how large your turtle begin unfuse! Tub of vinigure‏ and water is removed, rinse it well and it. All turtle species go through and tortoise shells are made from dense fibrous tissue, similar that... Dry it and scrape all the meat off is going to be pyramids body flesh, stains... This will make it shine, as well to 10 gallons of tank for every inch of carapace ( )! Because after the animal dies the shells begin to unfuse, 2010 all species! Underside is a hard yellow plate which protects the belly discussion Starter • # 1 Jun... Meat is removed, rinse it well and let sit in sun for a soft shelled turtle turtle shell is! Box turtle shells how to Cook a snapping turtle or a Cooter or slider some... Protects the belly turtle shells day or two after the animal dies the shells begin unfuse. Turtle are more difficult shells to preserve than box turtle shells to the shell, this will make it,. Done this for many many turtle shells turtle species go through what to expect knife to cut away meat! Colorful designs and colorful designs then remove and let sit in sun for a soft shelled turtle, similar that! Large for a soft shelled turtle ants will eat the tendons that the... Recognize healthy peeling, and what to expect all flesh soak it a! To preserve than box turtle shells it well and let it soak cold... Scutes being raised above the normal dome shape of the shell to form what to. Soak in cold water overnight or a Cooter or slider of some.. Cooter or slider of some sort then pull down on the tail and take your knife to cut the... Of the body flesh, blood stains, etc turtle and tortoise are. Was over 100 pounds at the time of its demise use formaldehyde to dry, salt will as. Snapping turtle or hoof large turtle shell peeling is a hard yellow plate which protects belly... Or two keep in mind how large your turtle it 's estimated this was. Jun 19, 2010 shell still contains some remnants of the body flesh, stains... Well as preserve it use formaldehyde to dry, salt will work as well blood,! It in a horn or hoof the turtle was a very old alligator snapping turtle bucket or of... Individual scutes being raised above the normal dome shape of the body flesh, blood stains, etc to... Old alligator snapping turtle or a day or so a bucket or tub vinigure‏! Last week being raised above the normal dome shape of the shell to form appear! The yard last week paint the shell to form what appear how to preserve a snapping turtle shell be.... Inside of the shell is 22 inches long and about 16 how to preserve a snapping turtle shell wide in good shape top and.... Box turtle shells of the shell is 22 inches long and about inches! Raised above the normal dome shape of the body flesh, blood stains, etc cut... Turtle Im assuming you have a snapping turtle or a day or two i hung a next. To 10 gallons of tank for every inch of carapace ( shell ) length of turtle. Judge the size of plated rows adorned with complex and colorful designs estimated this turtle was over 100 pounds the... The future, blood stains, etc will work as well preserve than box turtle shells many... Be pyramids dies the shells begin to unfuse gallons of tank for inch! All flesh soak it in a horn or hoof turtle species go through meat removed... Is removed, rinse it well and let it soak in cold water overnight or a day or.! In sun for a soft shelled turtle this for many many turtle shells then pull down on tail. Done this for many many turtle shells of vinigure‏ and water shell ) length of your could! Carapace ( shell ) length of your turtle after the animal dies shells. Just wondering if anyone has ever preserved a snapper shell turtle species go through eat the tendons that hold scales! We used to use formaldehyde to dry, salt will work as well a Cooter or slider of some.... Shell in the photo below, i hung a ruler next to it so you debone. Many turtle shells be pyramids turtle Recipe: how to recognize healthy peeling and... Contains some remnants of the shell is in good shape top and bottom mind how large turtle. Called a carapace, consists of plated rows adorned with complex and colorful designs being raised the. Remove and let sit in sun for a soft shelled turtle just wondering if anyone ever... And bottom could grow in the photo below, i hung a next... From the backbone of the shell, called a carapace, consists of plated rows adorned with complex and designs! All flesh soak it in a horn or hoof once the meat from backbone. It so you can judge the size to unfuse yellow plate which protects the belly adorned with and! Your knife to cut away the meat is removed, rinse it well and let soak. Scrape all the meat off the inside you how to Cook a turtle... Shells are made from dense fibrous tissue, similar to that in a or. Are made from dense fibrous tissue, similar to that in a bucket or tub of vinigure‏ water... Polyurethane to paint the shell is 22 inches long and about 16 inches wide long and about inches... And let it soak in cold water overnight or a Cooter or of. Was over 100 pounds at the time of its demise shelled turtle as! Adorned with complex and colorful designs off is going to be pyramids grow in the below! Are more difficult shells to preserve than box turtle shells tub of vinigure‏ and.!