Urgent Care :: baby res not growing!!!! Can someone help?

[bam]

Help!! I have 2 baby res. They were the same size when I got them about 4 months ago..the shell about the size of a half dollar. But one of them has at least tripled in size, and the other, if anything seems to have shrunk!! She eats good, swims, basks, and seems active...but I'm worried...she is so little...does anyone know what could be causing this?? I'm new to this and I love these guys!!!!

[steve]

First, keep them in separate tanks. Its common for one RES to out-compete another tank mate. Make sure they both get UVB, calcium, clean water, a basking area and try to vary their diet. Don't overfeed and don't try to compensate for the previous lack of feeding.

[bam]

What kind of calcium...I have one of the floating turtle bones in there...is that good enough? And the little one does eat good..I make sure...I don't think it's because it's not getting food...

[missibsu]

Cuttlebone is a good source of calcium. It's found in the bird section. It will have a hard backing on it, the side that you can't push a fingernail into. That backing needs to be removed. You can break it into bit size pieces and let it float in the tank. The powder that comes from breaking it can be used to coat a moistened pellets as well. Just to help reinforce the calcium.

[marisa]

What is the turtle being fed and if you feed them together, has the one turtle been able to get an equal amount of the food? You could also get a powdered calcium supplement to put on moistened pellets to increase the amount of calcium s/he gets.

Just curious, but what does your turtle feel like in the palm of your hand? Does s/he have any "heft," or does the turtle feel hollow?

[Hoooneylynn]

Would it be harmful if a turt ate one of those "bite size" pieces of a cuttlebone whole? I am thinking about getting one for mine, and she likes to chomp down on things... just today I put one of those white med turtles in, and she attacked it lol... chomping off the legs and head. I know she isn't supposed to eat it... so I want to get her a cuttlebone. I know she will try to eat it whole!

[cam722]

If it's bite size it should be ok.. I'm assuming you mean a turtle bite size and not a human bite size As for the those med turtles.. I've read that they really aren't necessary and just make more waste in the water. Put the whole cuttlebone in the tank (with the hard backing removed) and just let your turtle nibble at it, honestly, they will only take what can fit in their mouth.

[Hoooneylynn]

Okay thanks... I didn't want her to choke, and yes I meant turtle bite size Karlyn eats like theres no tomorrow. lol... She always gulps her food down. I can give her the ones that are in the bird section? Thanks

[steve]

Yup. I don't leave the whole thing in the tank though. My female RES has an insatiable appetite.