Urgent Care :: Skiddish and excessive shedding

[Lucysmom]

I'm new to turtle owning, so bear with me. I got a RES from a coworker of my husband. We were told it was a she, but I think my Lucy should really be a Luke...but whatever. She's really skiddish...every time we MOVE she slides off her rock and swims into the corner of her tank. Even if she's in the water, we come close and she goes into the corner. She used to be in a really small tank with well water...and they didn't have a basking light for her. How come she's so scared when we come near or move? Is this normal?

Also, I'm noticing that she's shedding every 4 days - a lot. Her water temp is always at 77 - we change 2/3 of the water ever 4 days because the water gets really cloudy. And we have to change the filter every 4 days too. Are we doing something wrong?? I don't think she's pyramiding. I'll try and post a pic soon...

How big is your turtle? 5 inches
How long have you had it? 2 months

What is the water temperature? 77
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? 15 galons
Are you using a water conditioner? yes - API tap water conditioner that removes chlorine and breaks the chloramine bond
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? I use a 50 watt lamp
Is there a basking light? yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes - and she loves to get up, and dive off - several times in a row. She seems to be playing
What kind is it or what is it made out of? ?? It's a floating one
Is there a UVB light? I don't know what that is.

What have you been trying to feed it? She gets pellets twice a day and sometimes some romaine. once a month we give her a few feeder fish. She loves to try and catch them.
When was the last time your turtle ate? when doesn't she eat?

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 20 gal - it's more wide than tall
Is the tank near a window? yes
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? we live in an apartment. The only place for her is in the "dining room"...right by the stairs up to our apartment.

Have you read the Basic Care section? backwards and forwards....I live by it.
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? yes, but I know her temp is right. The only thing I can think of is we're feeding her too much. but I don't know why she's so skiddish.

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? She swims against the glass all the time.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Okay, so first, since your turtle is over 5", you can drop that water temperature down a little. Shoot for closer to 75, maybe even 74 or 73. An adult turtle sheds less in the lower temps. It's also better for their metabolism, it slows it down to a good level. Next, whenever a turtle is put into a "better" situation, often the first response is to shed. It's okay, don't worry until it's been a few months. Next, turtles are skiddish. I've had mine for a year and he's still skiddish.

Your tank is WAY too small. For a 5 inch turtle, you want at least 50 gallons, and upwards of 75-120 gallons before they are done growing. And if you think you have a male, he will look like he is Wolverine.

[Lucysmom]

Ok - so the water is too hot. We don't have a heater with a temp guage on it....so, should I add cold water ever day or so? I do think she is a he - the tail is getting really thick and it's really long.....

We know the tank is too small - due to circumstances beyond our control (until today) we have not been able to afford a bigger tank. Do you think with a bigger tank that she/he will shed less too? Right now, Lucy looks fuzzy...

Do you replace all the water when you need to change the water?
I tried taking pics but she never sits still. And I looked a bit closer at her shell - I see some spots where a small pyramid is starting to form - just one or two. I can stop this right?

BTW - this forum is great. I'm so glad there are people out there who care and are willing to help. Thanks for all your answers.

[steve]

Lucy does sound like a Luke (a picture of the underside of the tail would help).

77F is OK, but it would be acceptable if it was a tad cooler. Accurate thermometers are highy recommended.

Shedding should look thin and wispy (there are some pictures posted throughout the forum). Fuzzy can be fungus, so if you can provide a comparison photo, it would be very helpful.

The size of the tank is really an issue and if your turtle is a male, a 75 gallon should be able to serve as a permanent home (though larger would always be better).

Minor pyramiding should be able to even out with the appropriate diet. Where have you noticed the spots? Younger RES have a minor ridge along the vertebral scutes.