Can Turtles Live Without Their Shell? (Even For A Little While?)

It’s easy to mistake a turtle’s shell for some medieval knight’s armor. And we get it, with those stubby legs, tiny head, and tail poking out, it looks like they’re just trying on the armor for size. But trust us, that shell is no fashion statement. It’s the real deal!

A turtle’s shell is his home on the legs, an insurance policy against predators, and the literal definition of backing it up.

So, can a turtle take his shell off and enjoy life minus the shell weight?

No, he can’t.

Can turtles live without their shell?

Nope! Turtles can’t live without their shells.

Intrigued?

We are here to tell you all the things about turtle shells in this post. So, keep scrolling.

turtle inside shell

Turtle Shells Explained

Before jumping to “Why can’t turtles live without their shells?” let’s learn more about this tough mobile mansion.

A turtle’s shell is his version of a backpack that doubles as a crash pad.

Is the turtle and tortoise shell just that? A shell?

It’s a lot more. It’s a puzzle of 50 bones that fuse together to protect the little fella. Think ribs, spine, and shoulder blades (and 47 more) together.

The turtle shell has two parts:

  • Carapace
  • Plastron

Carapace – The Protective Top Shield of a Turtle Shell

This top layer is an engineering masterpiece. The carapace has coastal and neural bony plates, scutes, and thick scales with lots of keratin.

What makes it even more fascinating is how all these different pieces fit together. It’s a Jigsaw puzzle in full force. Flexible ligaments, or sutures, are the connectors.

Do all the turtle and tortoise species have the same carapace shape?

No, not all turtles have the same shell.

Depending on the turtle species, the carapace can be oval or heart-shaped.

Wait, there are more types.

  • Leatherback sea turtles have large tear-drop-shaped carapaces. These are more leathery and help these sea turtles glide through the water.
  • Snapping turtles are famous bottom walkers. They have a more rigid carapace, one that can help them camouflage.
  • Land turtles, or tortoises, have harder carapaces with a lot of keratin.

Plastron – The Underbelly Armor of a Turtle Shell

The plastron is the bottom half of a turtle’s shell. It’s the flatter, ventral part of the shell with thick, bony plates. Again, they are connected by flexible ligaments.

The plastron is important: it protects the little shell-bud’s vital organs inside his body.

plastron of shell

Are Turtles Born With Shells?

Have you seen one that’s not?

Tortoises and turtles are born with shells. All of them. Always.

The shell is soft and flexible for baby turtles. But it’s still pretty sturdy for their baby’s needs. As they grow older, the shells become harder.

Why?

More keratin, more strength – that’s how it works. Yep, just like your nails and hair.

Can a Turtle Leave His Shell?

Turtle and tortoise shells aren’t something that can shimmy out of. They just can’t. The shell is a crucial part of the turtle’s anatomy. Without a shell, the turtle will die!

Does the shell grow? Peel? Anything?

Key Takeaway:

Turtle shells grow with them. When the turtle gets bigger, the older scutes peel off, and new, bigger ones take over. This is a special turtle trait. Other reptiles, like hermit crabs, don’t grow shells. They just crawl into a new one.

What Would a Turtle Look Like Without His Shell?

Ideally, the shell must always be there. It keeps the turtle alive and happy.

But hypothetically, what would a turtle look like without a shell?

He’ll only be a red mushy mess. You’ll be able to see all the soft skin and organs.

Honestly, you might not even recognize it.

Why Do Tortoises and Turtles Need Shells?

Up until now, we learned what a turtle’s shell is made of and whether all turtles are born with it.

But why is the shell there? What does it do? Are the vibrant yellows, regal blacks, and brilliant greens just some sassy shell fashion?

No, actually. Shells are superpowers in disguise. They have some really good functions.

These functions are the main reasons a turtle can’t live without a shell.

Here are the main functions of a turtle’s shell.

The Shell is a Part of a Turtle’s Body

You love your skin, right? For turtles, it’s their shells. An undetachable part of their bodies.

The shell’s outer layer, the carapace, is connected to the turtle’s rib cage and spinal column.

As we highlighted above, a carapace has nerves and blood vessels. It means removing the shell would be like amputating a limb. Not pretty and definitely not needed!

Shells Help Hide Turtles

Turtles are plain, innocent targets for predators. Zero defense strategy and no speed.

But, with a shell, they can quickly tuck themselves up into safety.

Is this why turtle shells are so drab and basic?

Pretty much.

The browns and greens in turtle shells help them blend into their surroundings. They can easily hide in the sand, mud, leaves, and rocks.

Shells Act as Protection

What if the turtle fails to camouflage in time? Is it over for him?

Here, take some turtle positivity. We have good news!

Turtle shells are too strong for even alligators. YES! Even the top predator struggles with this armor-like shell. It means if a turtle manages to hide before the predator gets hold of his limbs, he’ll get through just fine.

What about my pet turtles? How does the shell protect them?

We are glad there aren’t any predators at your home. But what if you drop your turtle? Or what happens if two shell-mates get into a fight? Your pet turtle can even bump into the enclosure enhancements and get hurt. Possible, right?

The shell is a savior.

Shells Make Turtles Agile Swimmers and Burrow Diggers

Shells look heavy. And they are. So, you must think, “How will the shell even protect the turtle with all that weight? It’s just going to slow the poor fella.”

But is it really so? 

In reality, it’s the opposite that’s true. Just watch a turtle swim underwater, and you’ll know what we are talking about. A turtle’s smooth shell makes him efficiently streamlined.

As for land turtles, their hard shells are their shovels. They use them to dig deep burrows when it’s time to hibernate.

The Shell Protects the Eggs

Like all reptiles, turtles, too, reproduce by laying eggs. There are hundreds of eggs in one nesting. It’s an attractive target for any predator.

Smartly, turtles use the shell as a lid to protect their eggs. The shells become like mini-fortresses, guarding the eggs against any harm.

That’s the difference between a turtle and any other reptile. Other reptiles don’t have the same shell protection.

Turtle Shells Help With Bodily Functions

Turtles are little sun-worshippers. Sun makes them happy and keeps them healthy.

What do turtles want from the sun?

In a short answer: Vitamin D3. Yes, it’s not just for us humans. 

Vitamin D3 promotes turtle shell growth. And because the slow-mo heroes can’t make this vitamin on their own, they soak up the sun’s rays through their shells.

There’s more! During hibernation, turtles switch from aerobic to anaerobic respiration. They breathe through their butts. Cool phenomenon, right?

Wait, there’s a downside! Breathing through the butts can cause toxic lactic acid build-up in tiny turtle bodies. It can kill. gulps

Guess what saves the day? The shell, of course! drum rolls

It neutralizes this toxic acid, keeping our shelled friends safe.

A Turtle Shell is a Private Pantry

Where do you think turtle slow-mojo comes from? Turtles, like all other living things, need some essential minerals.

Calcium for their bones and muscular function, magnesium for calcium absorption, and phosphorus for their cellular functions.

When turtles chow down their favorite grub, they don’t just eat for pleasure. They are eating at to store. Their shells are like pantries where they keep extra minerals to help them perform bodily functions. Genius!

Heat Regulation

We know that the shell allows a turtle to absorb heat from the sun. But there’s more to it. The shell also prevents the turtle from overheating during scorching heat conditions.

Without it, a turtle has no buffer between the environment and his body. It means the turtle’s body fluid can rapidly reach dangerous temperatures and cause heat stroke. It may result in organ failure.

Plus, without his shell, a turtle’s organs are in the open. It makes him prone to bacteria or parasites. Creepy.

Can Turtles and Tortoises Feel Their Shells?

Absolutely!

Turtle and tortoise shells have a network of nerves that connect their shells to their nervous system. They feel every little scratch, touch, and stroke.

Just like some humans who don’t like free hugs, some turtles and tortoises aren’t big on being touched, either!

But others are pretty happy when they get a little human love. So, if you feel like your turtle needs a little pick-me-up, pet away!

Pain? What about that? Do turtles feel pain in their shells?

Sadly, yes! Turtles can feel pain in their shells. And, of course, you should never pull on their shells or try to harm them in any way.

turtle's shell

What Can Hurt a Turtle’s Shell?

Turtles can have their version of bad hair days. Like other animals, they can also run into issues with their shells.

Here are a few ways a turtle’s shell might get damaged.

Shell Rot

Shell rot is a nasty bacterial or fungal infection. It can cause the shell to crack, chip, split, or simply break. This shell problem can put your turtle’s life at risk too.

Worried about your pet turtle?

Don’t be. If you treat it well, shell rot heals. It might take weeks, but your little slow-crawler will get there.

We are sharing some signs of turtle shell issues so you can get on with some TLC right away.

  • A slimy coating (it’s not algae)
  • Prominent breaks and splits (they’ll be visible)
  • Blood or discharge from the area
  • Strong and bad smell

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)

MBD is a bone condition. It can soften the shell or, worse, damage it. When that happens, your turtle is at risk of getting infections.

What causes MBD?

There are a few things that work in combination to cause the disease.

  • Poor diet – low calcium and Vitamin D3
  • Insufficient UVB light
  • Kidney issues

On the bright side, you can tell when your turtle is down with MBD. He’ll lose his appetite and get weak. The bones will be soft and bent. Just be gentle when you check, okay?

Predator Attack

Wild animals love turtle juice. They’re an easy target. And it’s raining survival instincts out in the wild. So, if an outrageous predator manages to get its claws on a turtle, the turtle’s shell is one of the first targets. It’ll get scratched and cracked. The shell might even break.

What happens next?

It depends on how severe the injury is. Maybe the turtle will shake it off and go about his business without a problem. Or, he might end up with an open crack in his shell that can lead to nasty infections. Yikes!

Dropped or Stepped-On

It’s a sad affair, but accidents at home are too common. Stepping on and dropping are the two most common causes of shell injury.

Of course, it’s unintentional (we hope it is), but it doesn’t make it any less dangerous for turtles. A lot of times, dropped turtles lose pieces of their shells. Other times, you might be looking at a gnarly depression fracture.

Let’s just say it’s not a good look for your shelled buddy. Fractures could mean damaged internal organs. In that case, you’ll need to get him checked by a vet.

Can a Damaged Shell Heal?

Having a hurt pet turtle can be scary. You’re guilty. Your heart’s pounding. Your eyes are welling up. Let us ease it a bit.

The damaged shell can healPhew!

How long it’ll take to get back in shape depends on how badly it was injured. Maybe between two and three weeks if there’s no infection. But, sadly, the chances of no infections are slim. When the turtle shell cracks, it exposes the delicate tissues underneath to all sorts of bacteria. 

But there’s a silver lining: the soft tissue is first to heal.

Okay, back to the outer shell now.

The outer layer takes its sweet time to heal – a few months to a year. And if the damage is really bad, it might leave a scar for good.

In the wild, the turtle will have to roll with it. Because he isn’t getting any medical help there, and healing in the wild is a completely natural process. It’s a good thing the shell is made of renewable keratin and collagen. So, eventually, the damage will heal. 

In essence, the healing process depends on the following:

  • How healthy the turtle otherwise is
  • How bad is the injury 
  • If there was an existing underlying infection

Your pet turtle has a better shot at healing if you take your veterinarian’s help. Your vet will tell you a few easy turtle care tips to keep infections at bay. There’s more on it below.

How to Care for a Damaged Shell?

If you have a pet turtle in pain, you can’t wait to know how to care for him. We know the feeling, and we’ve got you!

Veterinary Care

It all starts at the vet’s office. Your vet needs to check how deep the wound is. Depending on that, they’ll either recommend topical treatment or surgery. It might get worse before it gets better, so brace yourself and take the vet’s advice.

An adhesive tape can handle small scratches and minor damage. But if a big shell piece is missing, your vet might use “bridging” to keep it together. Bridging involves attaching implants to the shell to help the tissue grow back and fill in the damaged area.

Your pet turtle might have to stay at the vet’s office for a few days. Your vet will clean, disinfect, and treat your turtle’s wound. In extreme cases, they might even have to rebuild the shell.

Rebuild? That’s possible?

It’s sad that some turtles must go through shell rebuilds. It’s an intense process that involves reconstructing the shells with acrylics, fiberglass, and resins. A turtle shell is just not the same after this reconstruction. But it’s better than having to say goodbye to your pet because of an infection.

Home Care

Once you take the turtle home, show them love and be responsible. Keep your turtle away from water. When your turtle loses pieces of his shell, it exposes the tissue underneath to water.

And that’s not a good thing! Because no matter how stupendously clean you keep the enclosure, tiny bacteria and other germs in the water can sneak into any cracks in its shell. The wound needs air and time to heal.

Please, no more dropping and stepping on either.

Turtles and Their Shells

Turtles may look like they don’t need their shells, but they do. It’s their safe haven that protects them from sunburn and hungry predators. Not to mention, they need the shell for soaking Vitamin D3 and protecting their delicate internal organs.

Without a shell, a turtle can’t move, regulate body temperature, or protect its delicate internal organs.

The bottom line is: Turtles can’t live without their shells. So, don’t ever try to remove your turtle’s shell. Also, be gentle with it. The shell has nerve endings. It can feel every bit of your touch and scratch.

If the shell gets damaged because of a predator attack or a bad fall, you need to act fast. Take your pet turtle to the vet’s office. Your love and your vet’s helpful advice will have your turtle back to its old self soon.

We hope you found this article helpful. If you want to learn more about turtles or other unique pets, Oddly Cute Pets is the place to be. We strive to provide you with all the information you need to care for your pets and make sure they’re healthy. Till then, happy cuddling!

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