General Care Discussion :: Update on rescued baby

[hdaisog]

I posted some info on this new "baby" that we are fostering in the Photo Gallery awile ago. The turtle was confiscated from a hoarding family. My husband went back on Saturday to see their progress of cleaning up their house and finding new homes for several animals. The people told him they have had this turtle for a couple of years. I thought it was 6-12 months old, not a few years old. All of my turtles were over 4 inches when I got them. I'm wondering if it is extremely abnormal for a 3 inch turtle to be 2+ years old?

The turtle is doing very good. He is swimming very well and will be moving into a 55 gallon tank soon. He eats everything I offer him including veggies. He seems to bask a lot, but I figure its just because he is so used to being cold. His shell is peeling. I wouldn't say he is shedding because when my turtles shed they actually lose whole scutes. This is peeling like when human's skin peels after a sun burn. The shell is still hard. Any ideas?

[TheComputerGremlin]

Depending on the conditions (improper diet, too small of a tank, etc) the turtle's growth can be severely impacted. As is often stated on the board, size does not equate to age. So the turtle could be 2+ years old and still small. Be wary not to overfeed, as the growth will probably not kick into high speed or anything. If the turtle is in fact 2+ years old, pellets should probably be given every other day. So rather than grow, the turtle will get fat.

What do you mean by shedding? Like splintering like wood? Or just the seems peeling off like skin? Since human skin and turtle shell are vastly different, I'm not sure of the analogy.

[hdaisog]

He is being fed pellets only every other day. I understand the size does not equal size, but this turtle seems extremely small for 2+ years old. I'm assuming the improper diet and horrible living conditions is responsible.

I compared it to human skin because it looks very similar to skin shedding. Its very thin pieces that are not scute shapped similar in size and thickness to human skin when it peels. The last week or so is probably the first time in its life that it has basked.

[hdaisog]

I took the turtle to the vet yesterday. The vet says that the shedding is the result of the poor conditions. He said that it is shedding its to layer of scutes, but since it had such a poor diet, no basking, and no UVB then this is its unhealthy version of shedding.

[amsude]

It sounds like you are doing a great job. Good luck!!