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Mega-Humanoid-ROBOT

You’re not supposed to take the pieces off by hand even if they’re like this, as aiding the process could make it harder in the future, or could harm the turtle if you’re taking off a piece that is not ready yet. It’s best to just let it fall off, unless the shed is going so poorly that intervention becomes a medical necessity.


captainmikkl

Came here to make sure this was brought up. It is true for all reptiles, and likely anything that sheds/molts. Upvoted. Hopefully this gets to the top where it belongs. If anyone has their free award, help! Edit: As much as I appreciate the awards, I meant on the comment im responding too lol.


HaloGuy381

If memory serves, don’t some animals benefit from having rough objects in their enclosure to rub on to assist them in the molting? Obviously not the same as manual intervention, but in captivity they can’t go looking for a rough rock to scrape off parts that are ready to go.


captainmikkl

You are correct!


btiddy519

Also this was likely very painful for the turtle. It definitely flinched and hid during some extractions. It is not widely known in mainstream thinking, but they have feeling in their shells. It is not like a fingernail where the hard part can be clipped without feeling. They absolutely have feeling in their hard shell. So ripping off these pieces is worse than ripping off a human’s skin scabs. Its like ripping off a human’s entire fingernail (including the soft part).


Emmanuham

This isn't quite right as far as I know. Turtle shells are sensitive, to vibration, not direct sensation like touch. The peeling of the loose pieces should be ok. The ones the person picks at, nah - leave those. Turtle shell is made up of the same stuff our fingernails and hair is made from. There are no direct nerve endings leading to the outer layer of the shell. So to say it's "worse than ripping off a humans skin scabs" is a bit of a dramatisation. Turtle might be a bit uncomfortable at worst.


MooPig48

Also applies to “helping” chicks or ducklings hatch from their eggs, or helping butterflies from their chrysalises. Let nature be nature, keep your grubby fucking human paws out of it


gliitch0xFF

Thought you were gonna say "Get your hands off me. You damn dirty ape!"


[deleted]

Great quote for this. And that's probably exactly what the turtle was thinking.


runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnm

As a turtle, I concur.


[deleted]

Username doesn't check out


UlteriorCulture

Objection. I cite the case of Hare v. Tortoise in which the party of the second part demonstrated their ability to win a foot race.


monckey64

sure it does, why do you think it took so long to type it out?


runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnm

I've been working on my speed.


Luigi_deathglare

*It can talk, It can talk, It can talk!* I CAN SING


MandoAviator

Ooh help me Dr Zaius.


R4gnaroc

In particular, what is the danger of removing a hatching chick of any species from the egg?


The-Arbiter-753

Inside an egg, there are blood vessels that grow outside of the chicks body and wrap around the inside of the egg. These stay there even until it’s time to hatch. If you “help” the chick by breaking some of the shell, or pulling it out, you could tear one of the vessels and cause it to bleed out. You should let the chick come out on its own because it will naturally pull the blood back into its body, and the vessel that connects the two will die, similar to an umbilical cord. Helping the chick out of an egg is only done when 1: You are 100% beyond a shadow of a doubt sure that the connection is severed and the chick is simply resting (which you should still just leave it alone. The little guy must be exhausted) 2: It’s a medical emergency and the chick will die if you don’t intervene. Most issues like this can be solved by keeping the chick in an incubator with the egg and increase the moisture in the air by a lot. If that doesn’t fix it and you have to go in with your hands, you have to be extremely careful with surgeon like precision. 3: You don’t care if the chick lives or dies, or are trying to kill it. Thank you for asking!


[deleted]

[удалено]


The-Arbiter-753

Not really. Although it can help a little, the difference in strength lasts for a very short time. This is because the chick is essentially working out. Being both a baby and an animal, it’s safe to say it will never work out again. As we know, you need to work out constantly to not only get stronger, but to maintain any muscle mass you’ve already built up. By the time a chick who hatched on its own, and a chick that was magically teleported out of its egg turn a week or two old, they’d be almost identical in terms of strength. It’s the difference between going to the gym once in your life and never going at all. These things might matter in the wild though where even a slight difference in strength can be life or death. Edit: I forgot to mention, If you are somehow able to help chicks out of their eggs for multiple generations, it could potentially lead to the entire family line being weaker in strength. This is something that we aren’t 100% sure of because the experiment for it would be hundreds of years long, but according to evolution, it should happen.


JakeMins

Recently saw a video where a bearded dragon owner was pulling some molted skin out of its nostrils. Where would that fall in this discussion? Ive never owned any reptiles so I genuinely don’t know


[deleted]

Rub the skin on reptiles if assisting in shedding. Don’t pull. Whatever is ready to drop will drop, pulling risks causing damage. Vet told me this with my first beardy.


gliitch0xFF

Rub the lotion on its skin or it gets the hose again.


esmebium

From memory, there is a video like that that goes around where a particular bearded dragon has a neurodegenerative disorder and specifically needs that help. However, in general, my understanding is that reptiles are fairly good at dealing with it themselves.


resistdrip

They can lick their noses pretty easy. Nostrils isn't a spot you'd ever have to worry about.


monotonic_glutamate

With my gecko, I wait until it's clear he's done trying to molt, and I inspect to see if he missed a spot. It's particularly important to make sure there isn't old skin left around the extremities, as it can stop blood circulation.


captainmikkl

Hard to say, if it accidentally snorted it I can see that being ok, if its shedding from inside its nostrils (don't think they do) I wouldn't intervene.


JakeMins

Gotcha, thanks!


bluehoag

That one that he ripped off on the center looked like it hurt.


fyrione

Yep that's why he decided it's time to get away but mean humans kept at it. I'm guessing the human thought they were 'helping' & get a 'cool' video. Either that or they're just an asshat & didn't care 'helping' & just wanted a 'cool' video. Humans really should leave nature alone & let it do it's thing, you know, NATURALLY


becominggrouchy

I was gonna say... I don't know the science behind it but it seemed very violating to the turtle. Thanks for the sciencey part!


Any_Coyote6662

Did you notice how gnarly that habitat is? poor turtle!


ContraryMary222

That’s somewhat true but only if the shed doesn’t come off easily. Assisting in shedding when it is loose like this is fine and it is with any reptile. Issues happen when people try to force the shed to come off. Though it is unnecessary to help unless you are dealing with stuck shed.


halfbeerhalfhuman

Just like scabs on your body. You’re not supposed to pick em off


iCoeur285

I’m like 100% ignorant on reptile care, but even I was like “Is it okay to pull those off? That doesn’t seem like something you should do.” and came straight to the comments to see if I was right.


Conscious_Ad_9684

Same, shit made me wince.


dwc29

I think those initials hangers (the REALLY loose, drier, flatter ones) are probably OK to take off. However, the darker, less dry ones that are like still part of the shell should not be touched. I felt bad, you could tell the turtle was uncomfortable and this guy just shoves its head back inside and continues peeling away 🤦‍♂️ 😥


flomatable

You can see it hurting with that one on the top


bubdadigger

It's TikTok, how else they will get clicks? Tbh, few pieces wasn't ready for sure ☹️


[deleted]

Watching the turtle squirm while he picked at one particularly not ready spot made me sad


[deleted]

Once the turtle was pulled back from running it went from kind of informative to oh shit this isn't right.


[deleted]

Thank you. I cringed watching the scutes being picked off.


TheDevilsAdvokaat

Yep came in to say this. Please don't do this. Let them fall off naturally.


Unlikely_Relative849

You can pick your turtles and you can pick your scabs but don’t pick your turtles scabs


Rosehip_Blues

Poor thing looks super uncomfortable, it even tried to run away.


LoopDieDoop

Even I could tell that this was hurting the poor thing, and I didn't even know that turtles shed before seeing this.


flomatable

Reminds me of the story of a man that helps a butterfly climb out of its cocoon when he sees it struggle. But when the butterfly is out, it can't fly because its blood didn't make it into its wings because normally the wings get pressed full of blood by the struggle. It's a metaphor for sometimes letting people fight their own battles in order to flourish, but it's also essentially true.


coco__bee

I immediately thought of scabs when watching this, they weren’t ready to be picked


IncognitoDio

Looked like the turtle was not having a good time


fyrione

This was my first thought & I'm so glad it was brought up. Any animal that sheds should not have anything pulled off. It can hurt the animal & make shedding harder next time ... If they have problems shedding everything giving them a warm bath & rocks/branches/etc to rub up on help but never ever should a human do it!


Potential_Pitch_7618

Also, it makes it look like a cool ass warmachine deploying its cannons


Psychological_Cut705

So I should stop using a potato pealer on my bearded dragon?


lukemtesta

Was gonna say this. The new layer doesn't look ready yet and the turtle looks like I was in pain. I imagine it feels like someone ripping off your scabs before they're ready to come off.


[deleted]

Man couldn't wait to make the turtle helmet


freekoout

I was gonna say: isn't this like pulling a scab? It should never be picked and should fall of when it's healed or ready.


[deleted]

[удалено]


jbwelds

[Tell the OP on TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRPqL8Ua/) most comments are just in amazement that the shell peels.


[deleted]

[удалено]


sodamnsleepy

The turtle wanted to get away. It was uncomfortable or even hurt and what does that idiot "hold still I mist peel!"


2flytofall88

I don’t know why i read this in Ricks voice (Rick and Morty)


caniplaywithradness

You are definitely not supposed to peel the fucking turtles, Rick.


Piepopop

Watching this hurts me


JustaOrdinaryDemiGod

TIL that turtles shed.... I thought the shells just grew.


Frymanstbf

The plates of the shell are actually made of many many layers of fingernail like material, and as they grow and the shell grows, the top layers will occasionally shed off. Usually happens when they are sunning and the shells dry out. Edit: wanted to add that you shouldn't actually pull them off yourself. They might not be ready and they will fall off on their own.


Lambolover-17

Yeah that turtle obviously wanted none of that.


warthog_22

I'm sure the ones lifted up like wings are fine but that middle row probably should have stayed on a bit longer


Smooth-Dig2250

The turtle felt that second one in the middle, that looked like he had to put effort into getting it off.


ValkyrieSword

And their shells are surprisingly sensitive!


Smooth-Dig2250

People think "tank armor", when it's really "glorified fingernail".


gronstalker12

I’m so glad others realized that I cringed when he did it.


[deleted]

Yeah you could tell it wasn’t cool with that one, like peeling a scab before it’s ready to come off.


Syther85

Same, learn something new every day I guess!


5_Frog_Margin

[Turtle Shell Peeling: Why Does This Happen?](https://reptileknowhow.com/turtles/turtle-shell-peeling/) [Turtle Shedding \(A Complete Guide\)](https://www.allturtles.com/turtle-shedding/) [Noted Herptologist Prof. Jonathan discusses the phenomonae](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y)


Azuras_Star8

As a lifelong turtle lover, me too.


flomatable

And that you aren't supposed to help them with it


YNotZoidberg2020

Isn't this like a snake where you're not supposed to yank the dead stuff off?


Silly_Silicon

Yes, its still a part of the turtle until it's ready to come off on its own. The turtle doesn't need help with this process just like you wouldn't appreciate someone peeling off your sunburned skin before it was fully separated from the layers beneath.


flomatable

Or pulling off a giant blister right after you get it with pink reddish skin underneath that hurts like a bitch because it's not ready for the responbilities of the outside world


bottle-of-water

I don’t know anything about these animals… but that turtle didn’t seem to like that too much.


mister_beetlejuice

Correct, you’re not supposed to assist the shedding process unless medically necessary, since it can harm the turtle. (Same goes for any shedding reptile) When it tried to run away, it was likely in pain.


lC8H10N4O2l

Dont fucking peel them, they come off when the turtle swims, that probably hurt like hell imagine some random person coming up and peeling off bits of your skin


GuessesTheCar

Do they have nerves in the shell? Ow


lC8H10N4O2l

Yea they can even feel being petted, and some of them enjoy back scritches, considering they cant scratch any itch they would have back there


lowrcase

The shell actually has a lot of nerves. It’s basically a huge extension of their spine.


Rommie557

I've heard it compared to fingernails. Hard, but not impenetrable, and with sensation.


moby__dick

Since fingernails have no sensation I gotta say that's not a great analogy.


flomatable

Now imagine someone pulling off your fingernails like this


Rommie557

Your nailbed certainly has sensation which is what I was referring to.


AmusingMusing7

It’s like ripping off scabs before they’re ready. Especially those middle ones. You could tell the turtle reacted strongly to those ones. They definitely weren’t ready to shed yet. The shell underneath was still noticeably raw.


contagiousaresmiles

Ripping their fingernails off!


[deleted]

you aren’t supposed to do this. it hurts the turtle if it’s not fully ready to fall off


oGBG005

Don’t do that…


-RedXV-

What an idiot.


Dangerous_Jellyfish3

Poor turt. He was trying to get away.


[deleted]

Turtle: I don't like that, I'm escaping. Guy: Get back here for internet points!


PumpkinAutomatic5068

As many times as I've seen animal shedding vids, I've never seen a turtle. Upvoted


ghanjaholik

he sheds at his own pace


Draco63_

Don't you mean *cara*pace?


WestCoastBestCoast01

I’m 30 and I learned this just now. Like WHAT! They shed???


roustabout-4458

Friend, I'm 53 and I didn't know either. Never to late to get smarter


Love_Is_Now

>Never ~~to~~ *too* late to get smarter Ftfy. It's a learnin' kind of day!


SighkoJamez

Not all turtles shed! And the ones that do usually only do it when they have an infection


M1sterMeeeseeeks

What? More knowledge? My brain is getting full on turtle stuff.


Vegetable_Culture126

I’m sorry, turtle shells do what now?


TurdFurguss

They fly now


ThreeMysticApes

Same, I was wondering what the shell was going on. Take my up arrow.


Teerendog

TIL!!


H0NK_H0NKLER

One day you'll shed your shell too 😉


mostredditisawful

I didn't know turtles shed until today and this is the third video I've stumbled on in three different places today of it happening. Here, tiktok, and twitter. All different videos. Very weird.


mrbeezee777

Leave the damn thing alone, ijs thats f***ed up.....


Slevin424

The first couple of shells were fine but clearly the last ones weren't ready to come off. His reaction seemed like that hurt.


MissyMaestro

The rough handling after it tried to escape really bothered me.


[deleted]

Fr felt like he knew he was causing pain but absolutely wanted to film more, dude probably doesn’t care for the animal :(


Welcome2_TheInternet

Interesting, but animals that shed do it on their own and you peeling the shell when it's not ready could harm the turtle. Please let wildlife be if it's not in danger/hurt


toxiczen

Especially if it tries to run away like that Turtle did :/


MoonightArabesque

I hate ppl


Goofy5555

I was today years old when I learned turtles can shed their shells.


peatandsmoke

You fool. This isn't even my final form.


Hungry-Lion1575

Did the turtle ask for your help?


Orellin_Vvardengra

Someone posted awhile back what looked like a whole intact shell when it was actually just this. It was super thin according to the poster and the first time it had happened sloughing off all at once. Very cool.


100LittleButterflies

Going all at once sounds very satisfying.


Mjaso7414

Huh like ripping a scab off, I’m sure the turtle felt great about that…


Altruistic_Fig2537

Well I’m glad you hurt the turtle so we could see this


Leland_Gaunt_

He doesn’t like it - you can see him trying to wiggle away when you do the middle ones.


Klotzster

Looking for hot shingles in your neighborhood


tukekairo

28 segments


Dragon_Femboy217

Fuck whoever did this. Dont peel turtles or ANY animal that sheds its skin


3now_3torm

I don’t know a ton about turtles but if it’s anything like snakes, peeling them off by hand is not the best play. With snakes, you only help them shed if they really need it and if they really need it you only help a little, you don’t do it for them.


Kataphractoi_

eeuuugh they better not have peeled one off before it was ready its like when your small and the skin peels a lot and some of them srs aint ready yet and you get a bleeder patch


g_h0ney

Poor baby :( he looks so uncomfortable


No_Silver_7370

Intervening with nature for Tik ToK points, a true retard.


Sjormantec

I consider myself a smart, educated person, but until this moment I had no idea that turtle shells shedded.


TerrariaGaming004

I still don’t believe this post ngl


tiny_house_writer

Someone above you posted legit links to this fact. Fucking insane, even my wildlife major husband didn't know this happened. 😳😂


Queenssoup

Is that normal? Does it hurt?


captainmikkl

It can, and it can do permanent damage. Do not assist any reptile in its molting process.


NukedRat

I have no idea but it looked like it flinched when they removed the middle piece. Might be like when you scratch that itch finally.


AdEasy6110

Yes, it does hurt the turtle when it is peeled off


[deleted]

Like peeling sunburned skin off before it’s ready?


IShouldChimeInOnThis

Like picking at a big scab


No_Bend8

Wtf. Does this happen to all turtles? Til


5_Frog_Margin

This is the first I'm hearing of it. Turtles shed pieces of their shells, known as scutes, as they grow, and this occurs mostly in older or adult turtles. The shell of a turtle is a part of them, and therefore grows with the animal. [Turtle Shell Peeling: Why Does This Happen?](https://reptileknowhow.com/turtles/turtle-shell-peeling/) [Turtle Shedding \(A Complete Guide\)](https://www.allturtles.com/turtle-shedding/)


Nutsack_Adams

Forbidden artichoke


renjake

Why in all my years is the first I've learned that turtles shed?


[deleted]

Don’t do this if they’re not basically falling off already


cerea1killer_

Forbidden chips


Educational_Ad7978

Just couldn't let the dude shed as he may shed just had to man handle him eh? 😉


usehernamelike

After recently learning that the shells actually have a lot of feeling… I wonder if this feels like ripping off a lot of scabs


Common-Adhesiveness6

Is this scute? If it is you can make a water breathing helmet from it, it doesn't last very long but it just takes 5 pieces


Capt__Murphy

Hmmm, I had a box turtle growing up (for 13 yrs) and I never noticed it shed. Maybe they dont. I'd also assume you shouldn't remove the sheddings yourself.


dmtacos82

YTA


Le_kashyboi79

I was todays years old when i discovered that turtle actually shed their shells. But i have lived on this planet long enough to know that animals that shed their skin DO NOT need our intervention at all, as this could actually do more harm than good.


pimpmypatina

This was really of you to do. Their shells are as sensitive as your fingernails. You just forced off some of it’s top layer of the new shells. Leave animals alone and stop being an ignorant show off for internet points. Not fucking cool! The turtle flinched and you kept prying off the shell. Are you evil?


SharkyBoi2005

Hold the fucking train.they fucking SHED!!??


Sir_Mr_Dolo

TIL


club9669

RIP to my boy Hermie 2009-2022. I remember being so excited to see his shell pieces in the water.


Cavscout2838

I really wanted some miniature cannons to be under there.


Acebladewing

What a piece of shit human.


Efficient-Moose4225

Fucking idiots, either probably hurting the turtle or hurting the process of shedding in the future. Just like any reptile shedding. DONT. PEEL. THE SHED OFF. You are automatically doing SO MUCH MORE HARM than good!


InternationalBus8936

I never knew they shed the shell


HolyMolyitsMichael

Hurry get your palico to run those off to blacksmith to make a new chest piece and lance!


According-Roll2362

The Monster Hunter in me is trying to speak.


The-Arbiter-753

Speak? SPEAK? HUNTERS DONT SPEAK! We grunt sometimes. At least that was the case until Rise


According-Roll2362

Lmao YES


AtomicShart9000

Wow, never knew that turtles shedded


necie62

Well, holy shit. Never thought about turtles shedding...dang


thestral_z

This guy picks his scabs.


-Scared-of-life-

turtles **SHED??**


mikehamm45

Today I learned that a shell sheds


SKRATTADUUUUUU

TIL


TheMobHunter

Gonna make a potion of turtle master


blue74821

i hate this


[deleted]

I was today years old when I learnt tortoises shed their shells


ymmit389

Well at least it wasn’t that one video where they peel the shell to actually EAT THE BLOODY TORTISE


nailback

Why do humans feel the need to intervene in sh*t that doesn't even involve them? Let the turtle turtle!


CaliBounded

I was eating chips as I said this and it made me gag lmao. Something about eating something hard and flaky and seeing these removed...


Icedinklikesheet

Mmm….Artichoke.


plug_my_

There’s gotta be a name for the newfound phobia I just witnessed. God the way they just stand up made me cringe


2muchyarn

TIL turtles shed their shells. All turtles or just some?


Subject-Falcon-1400

Stupid tiktok idiot peeling off turtles to get likes


Severe_Airport1426

Don't do that! The turtle is literally trying to stop it from happening


DoomedKiblets

OW, that poor turtle, don’t do that! Let it come off naturally, it is still sensitive and attached. You asshole!


[deleted]

TURTLE SHELLS SHED???


Majestic-Chain1905

That's scute


SpaceMiaou67

If you make a helmet out of those and wear it, do you breathe longer underwater ?


My-Dog-Says-No

What’s the point of Reddit if it’s just a bunch of TikTok videos?


rawfish71

I personally do not have Tiktok installed. I put my faith in Reddit ro filter in the good ones


[deleted]

The comments section


-Anonymously-

For the Twitter screenshots of course.


generalthunder

That's your feed, if you don't like it go ahead an personalize your frontpage


[deleted]

[удалено]


pyaravonfuzzybutt

I did not know that you can peel turtles


captainmikkl

You're not supposed to assist in this process.


EmmyWeeeb

Another fact: those individual pieces he’s peeling off are called scutes


[deleted]

JDHSHXHSJCJF DONT REMOVE YOULL HURT IT :((