It has been so long since I've actually posted on here, mostly because my turtle does so well. I had one tiny little chip on the shell in 2010 and really no other issues since then. I have had Michelangelo (a female, despite the name) for 26 years now. I got my turtle when I was 12 and I am 37 almost 38. It's been so long. Love him (her) so much! 26 years!
With time comes life changes. My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a couple of years back, and I feel like that has caused me to neglect my turtle more than I ever have. Just so many other responsibilities, but I love my turtle. I know I do the right thing, but I need to do a tank upgrade and get a new filter as the old one is not adequate. Filter has been broken and usually I put him outside in the summer anyway. Figured I would wait. But it's been over 100 degrees every day, so that's also been on pause. I'm in the process now of getting the new tank and filter, but it's been a few months since he's really had the proper filtration. Everything else UVB, etc., has been fine.
Today I just temporarily moved Michelangelo to a bathtub while I install a new tank. I figured this way I can completely clean the water every single day without relying on a filter. Today while feeding him a shrimp treat, I noticed the inside of his mouth has an orangish/brown color:
- Screenshot 2024-07-16 at 7.57.28 PM.png (255 KiB) Viewed 1432 times
( Edit: The white stuff is the shrimp! So it's not any kind of puss or anything. It was the only way I could get him to open his mouth. )
I'm not sure if this constitutes as red. Or if this is just from the krill pellet treats I feed him. Does this look really horrible to anyone? Will definitely bring him to his vet, but it's usually around $400. Wanted to check to see if anyone has seen this before before I rush over. I don't think it's a big enough emergency for urgent care, so I'm posting it here. Let me know your thoughts!
How big is your turtle? 10 inches
How long have you had it? 26 years
What is the water temperature? 76 degrees
Did you use a thermometer? Yes
Are you using a water heater? Yes
How much water is in there? 100 gallons
Are you using a water conditioner? Yes
Are you using any filtration? At the moment, no. I know. It's horrible. But the bathtub is the temporary solution!
What is the basking temperature? 98 degrees
Is there a basking light? Yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? It's large brick stones.
Is there a UVB light? Yes.
What have you been trying to feed it? Variety of pellets, krill pellet treat, seafood, veggies, fruits like strawberries, melon
When was the last time your turtle ate? 2 minutes ago
How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 100 gallons now in the tub, outside kiddie pool is maybe 8 feet
Is the tank near a window? Yes
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? Yes
Have you read the Basic Care section? Yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? Yes
Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? No. He is otherwise acting totally normal. Just the mouth color.
