General Care Discussion :: If it isn't one thing it's another

[smith1_1_2000]

I had 4 turtles. I built them an outdoor pond not too long ago. It's been beautiful weather lately so they have been outside. I built them a filter and enclosed the pond so they would be okay. Or so I thought. It was getting cold so I rounded them up and put them back in the tank. I can't find one of my turtles. Really sucks cause I have had them for 3 yrs. Now after getting along for all this time when I moved the back into the tank 2 of my females are bickering. I hope they will get along when I put them back outside. Its like going from apt. to mansion. Do you tink they will be okay for a couple of days or do I need to take one out? I know its cramped.

[octpusgirl8]

I'd find a way to separate them. Turtles can do a suprising amount of damage to each other, and you don't want to wait for something awful to happen before you do something about it. I hope you're looking for your lost turtle, there are some good tips for looking here:http://www.redearslider.com/lost_turtle.html

[SpotsMama]

I hate to say it, but if they're bickering you'd better separate them right away. A couple of good bites from one of them is all it takes and you've got a badly injured turtle. Do you have a large rubbermaid tub or something similar you could keep the aggressive one in until the weather is better?

On the lost one, sometimes turtles will dig down into the dirt and hide themselves. They seem to like to do this in sheltered places like under bushes or a pile of leaves. Do you have anything like that near where your turtle disappeared? How long has he/she been missing?

[smith1_1_2000]

I looked and looked. We took everything out the pond to find him. The pond is fenced in with a 2 ft wire fence. It is buried about 6 in. all around. I am very sad to have lost him. He was my only male. I think something ate him. Because I see no evidence that he dug anywhere. The pond is surrounded with rocks. I am still looking for him though. I do not see any remains so I think there could be a chance I find him. I even put wire fence over the top of the enclosure. I will be getting something to ward off any other preditors before putting them out again. I would die if I lost anymore.

[SpotsMama]

We recently confirmed that there are raccoons in our neighborhood. I had been planning to put Spot out to live in his pond this summer but I guess we'll have to put him out every day and bring him in every night - he's not going to like it. Raccoons are notoriously clever and have those manipulative hands. We've heard of them getting turtles before. Do you per chance have raccoons in your neighborhood?

[smith1_1_2000]

I know ther are Raccons close by but have never had any problems at my house. Let me explain. I've seen them dead on the road by my house(about a block away) but never seen any evidence in my yard. No trash gone though or anything like that. But I am thinking that may be it or birds. I did put wire over the top but the front is open so maybe one swooped in?

[TheComputerGremlin]

Before drawing any conclusions, remember that he could have just escaped and may be hiding nearby. Sometimes they disappear and show up again a week or two later. Could he have gotten into the road? Could he have been scooped up by a neighbor? Is it possible that one of the females injured him enough that he had to escape and is hiding somewhere nearby? With a missing turtle and aggression showing up, it's possible they are related ...