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So, I just adopted two injured RES. One of them had been injured on a heat lamp, there is a burned, and mostly healing area on the side of it's nose and a little on the top of the head. The other one has a skinned area on the back of it's neck, looks as if it actually cut itself on it's own shell. This one was pretty malnourished.

So, my question is. What type of medical care should I give them? any tips? They are in a dry tank right now, but I want to get them back into an aquatic tank soon....

I may take them to the vet, but the girl I got them from, who rescued them each from their orginial owners has had them for a few weeks now, and their injuries have been improving.

thanks in advance for all you input.

How is their eating? Activity? Since it's already been a number of weeks since the rescue, and likely longer than that since the injuries, I would go by behavior.

If they don't have an appetite, are lethargic, or show other troubling signs, I would get them to a vet. make sure it is a herp vet trained in turtles. other vets can do more harm than good.

What kind of aquatic tank set up do you have for them? Technically, they should be in an aquatic set up all the time....just make sure the water stays very clean. If you have already had them dry-docked for a week, then that should be enough for any skin lesions to heal, and they should be back in an aquatic set up.

How/what are you feeding them? RES's can not eat out of the water because they have no salivary glands.

Can you post a picture of your aquatic set up?

Sorry if these seem like stupid questions but since this is your first post on this board, I am just making sure you know all the basics about how to take care of an RES. Can you give us more information? Thanks & welcome!

Welcome. Provide a good set-up (or set-ups) for them---do some reading for info on what they need if you don't know or aren't sure.

If the burns are healing on their own, I'd just let them be. You could put some Neosporin ointment on the neck to help it heal (keep the turtle out of the water for a while to let some of it sink in). Is there a sharp scute that the neck is scraping against?

What are you feeding them? If you're not already, you might feed them separately so that the malnourished one gets an equal amount of food.

I've owned res for years, and I'm pretty good on their set-up and feeding, but I have never had any injuries with my old guys..... it's just these two new ones...

they both have crazy big appetites, and are otherwise healthy. I just wanted to check and make sure of what I was doing with them now was right.

They are sadly only in a twenty gallon right now... Separate ones, just so that I can change water easily, and make sure they heal all the way. Once they are healed they will be in a much larger tank, or maybe my pond, haven't decided which yet.

Thanks you guys.

sounds like you're doing everything right from what you've told us. i'm glad you're keeping them seperate, and have already thought ahead to do regular water changes.

i don't think a vet is necessary being that they are acting healthy and look to be healing.

good job

That's what I was thinking... Thanks...