Hi guys, it's been a long time since I've haunted this board. All of the knowledge you gave me helped so much! My precious turtle passed yesterday of unknown causes at just 9 1/2 years old. I suspect she had something wrong since birth, if you recall I got her at a street fair as a tiny turtle. She only grew to maybe 6 or 7" in shell length, she really was never able to shed scutes no matter how much warmth or lighting she got (she shed maybe 5-6 over her life?), she never laid any eggs, and she didn't eat all that much. She was still my beloved pet.
What should I do with her body? It feels wrong to throw her away. I can bury her in our backyard but the ground is cold and it could take many weeks or months for it to thaw. What are my options? Should I put her body in a plastic bag and in the freezer until a proper burial can be done? Is there a way to preserve the shell? I was reading online and many of the options involve boiling or composting or putting her in acid and I just cannot bring myself to do those things. I guess I could take her to a local taxidermist to be preserved or vet to be cremated. I'm not thinking straight about this.
Second question, do I get another turtle? Her care was easy but we now have two small children. I have not seen tiny turtles for sale for very long (thank goodness!) so it would have to be through a breeder, pet shop, or expo. Are there any turtles that work well as multiples? Her tank always seemed too big for her (90 gallons plus over the tank basking area).
Thank you. Mourning her has taken a lot out of me.