This year in October, 30 dead turtles were found on the Fraser Coast. Soft Shell Syndrome or Metabolic Bone Disease is deadly for turtles. It is caused by not having enough light, low water temperature, and/or a bad diet or not enough nutrition. It causes low calcium in the turtle’s bloodstream, and it causes the scutes (thick horny or bony parts of a turtle’s shell) to start peeling off. The cure for this terrible disease is antibiotics. If professionals can find out what bacteria is causing the shell to become soft and vulnerable, if it isn’t too late, they can cure the turtle.
Why Is My Turtle’s Shell Soft? – TurtleHolic