General Care Discussion :: An odd one of the bunch.

[Kyamei]

I have 4 hatchlings: 1 yellow bellied slider and 3 res. I had the YBS at first before the other 3 were added. They seem to get along fine, it's cute when they're stacked on each other when basking. But lately I noticed that one of the res is acting weird than the others. For example, when it's time to feed, 3 of them know it's time to eat and quickly jump into the water as soon as the food touches the water. But one of them just sits there on the dock while the others eat. This turtle sometimes just stays on the bottom of the tank and sleeps sometimes. Then I noticed that it digs around the bottom and eats the wasted food and (I hope it really isn't eating it) poop! So I decided to isolate it in a bucket and feed it by itself in shallow water. It did take a bite of the food (hatchling food) but it quickly spat it out. Then the rest of the time it was trying to get out of the bucket. I just thought it was slower than the others. Or I thought maybe it was blind cuz it didn't see the food but it turns its head when I come near. Come to think of it, it was an odd one ever since I got it. I thought it had a piece of dried up stuff on it's shell but it's actually a dry piece of its scute. It's not peeling and hasn't changed since. It seems like it's doing what it's supposed to as far as basking and swimming. It just does it at different times than the others. Now I keep 2 (the YBS and the odd one) while my fiance took the other 2. I'm just wondering if it's something to be concerned with since it acts differently than the others. Thanks.

[Kemul]

I think it's just the turtle's personality. To make sure the "odd" one gets enough food, you need to watch it closely while feeding or feed separately like you already did. However, sometimes a turtle needs to feel really comfortable with the environment before it eats regularly. Usually, it's recommended that the water for the separate feeding container comes from the main tank.

It's normal for a turtle to eat its own poop. Perhaps it feels it hasn't absorbed all the nutrients yet.

[Kyamei]

Thanks for the reply. This morning my roommate wakes me up so early in the morning (I work nights) to eat breakfast. So I went to check on the turtles. Odd one seems to be a little more active in the morning which I don't see since I'm usually sleep throughout the morning. So I decided to feed it while it was still swimming around and it actually ate normally this time. I guess now that the other 2 res are gone, odd one seems to have opened up a bit. Maybe it was just shy or intimidated by the others? My YBS has always been mellow and friendly, and right now they're both basking close together. Seems like things are going fine but I'll still keep an eye out on it and make sure it's eating.

[regalesse]

i have a blind res. she gets along okay in the tank with her other tank mates. she does eat with the others as well but she is clumsy. she does on occasion swim straight into the tank wall after diving off the platform and it is an accident. but the only problem she has seems to be getting on the dock. she has a little trouble remembering which direction is the end to climb up on. she has trouble locating food in the water and can not catch the fish that are in the tank with her but she does eat well on dry dock and has no problems munching on the many live plants in her tank. if the turtle you had was blind, there would be more signs than that.