Urgent Care :: Found turtle

[windowskiller987]

Long story, A few months back my neighbor said she saw two turtles in a storm drain on the edge of our neighborhood. For a few week I looked & found nothing. Then one day when I went to look there were two small turtles swimming in the storm drain. On of them darted off under the street & the other on stayed there. I managed to catch the on turtle & bring it home. I did a little research & discovered that it was a peninsula cooter ( a close relative to the RES). I decided to get a permit & keep him. As the weeks went by I kept looking for the other turtle. Eventually I caught him. I also caught a baby snapping turtle & at least three other peninsula cooters. Today, I was taking the dog for a walk & discovered a very small peninsula cooter. right now it's only 58 degrees & I think he's to young to hibernate. I caught him & brought him home. He's now in a bucket in the bathroom with some water at about 80 degrees. What can I do to keep him alive & still release him when it's warmer?

[marisa]

I'd get a Rubbermaid storage container and create a temporary set-up for him. Is he eating yet? If so (or when he does), try to give him a diet that's as close to what he'd find in the wild as possible. This may be hard to do, but I also wouldn't give him very much attention---you want him as "wild" as possible for when he's released. Props to you for helping him.

[windowskiller987]

should I be feeding him feeder guppies or something like brine shrimp?

[marisa]

What's the natural diet like (I'd do a little research)? I'd give guppies (live food) over the shrimp (but a bit of the shrimp wouldn't hurt).

Do you know the actual place you'll eventually be releasing him at?

[windowskiller987]

Did some research & found they eat water bugs. He's now on pre-frozen crickets. He's in my closet in a tub with a basking light.

[Bascomb]

Wind-killer -- The crickets are fine. You may want to add meal worms and if he can't catch a feeder fish, help him. This little guy will need the proper water temp, basking temp and uvb rays also. 58 degrees was a little cold to find them. Some how they get accustomed to it. Here in the mountains you can find res in or near cold spring water.

[marisa]

You might also try an earthworm (or cut up one), also bloodworms occasionally. Add some aquatic plants to the tub, kinds he'd likely find in the wild. You can round out the diet with pellets (like Reptomin Baby) now and then to help round out his nutritional needs, but I'd concentrate on foods that he'd be apt to find and recognize in the wild.

[erinemcgreevy]

Wow. how many turtles do you have now?!