Urgent Care :: New Turtles today, NOW MISSING!

[JOYK]

Hi, I've just found this site, and I am a bit hysterical! I bought 2 slider turtles from a girl today who has raised them for 4 years. She has kept them in a small aquarium, with a log across the top that they could sunbathe on. I have a huge indoor plant garden and she brought them over and we put them in there. I included 2 areas of running water for the turtles. They seemed fine. One kept running around the thing, but the other seemed content in the water. I had to leave for a bit and when I returned the turtles were gone!! We finally found one of them burried in the dirt, and I put him back in the water, where he has stayed for about 2 hours, but I can not find the other one ANYWHERE! It could not have gotten out of the planter, and I looked and looked for it buried, but I cant find it. Is it going to die if I don't find it tonight? I'm so tired, and that thing is MIA! HELP! [/img]

[untsmurf]

Did you sift through all of the dirt... the turtle could've been scared or cold and buried itself pretty deep. If you already tried that... look around your house for places that are really dark with low traffic... like under the couch or in an old closet. It's best to find it ASAP. The longer it's gone, the more it can get hurt and if it's really long, it could starve.

They are running because they are aquatic turtles... They need lots of deep water... not just a hose.

[JOYK]

I really looked good in the dirt, but he has to be buried in there some where, because I put this fence up. I am going to try and show you pics if I can figure it out. I really think the water should be deep enough.

[shelach]

are you sure it couldnt have gotten out? Turtles are dertermend climbers. You realy need a lid or cover to prevent excapes.
maybe try leaving out a bowl of water where the turtle could climb into it. if its out it will look for water sooner or later. put some food out too. Turtles love food.
Good Luck.

[untsmurf]

They are expert climbers. My turtle climbed completely out of the tank and up the foot tall fence I had attached before I caught him.

How deep is the water?

[JOYK]

The water is about 3 - 4 times deeper than the turtles. There's a lot of dirt and plants. If that turtle climbed over the fence, it would have fallen about 3 feet or more on a solid marble floor. I think it would have killed it. I don't know.

[untsmurf]

When mine escaped he fell over four feet onto a wood floor and was just fine... you'd be amazed what they can do.

[JOYK]

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[JOYK]

[steve]

hi, your images didn't load (you might have to upload them again)

Here are some tips to help located your RES:

www.redearslider.com/lost_turtle.html

As mentioned, they are extremely capable climbers and diggers. They can bury themselves pretty deep, you'll just need to keep looking and carefully dig.

[marisa]

Hose down the area and see if the moisture doesn't draw him out. Look carefully in the plants and check the bases of them in case he burrowed there. You're sure he couldn't have escaped the area?

[RunninWideOpen]

Any luck finding him yet?