General Care Discussion :: New Turtle

[PinkyTurtle]

So today I picked up a turtle I was adopting through another teacher I met at a workshop. He is a little over four inches, fairly pale in color compared to my RES, and his shell has alot of shedding to do. She told me he was 26 years old! He is now in a proper sized tank, with lights etc. He had been kept in a 5 gallon tank with not even half full with water and only a aquiruim light. His diet was only pellets. No veggies or anything else. He was loved and looked after but they had no idea what he really needed.

So my main question is what can stunt a turtle growth like that? My turtle was about his size when I got him but is now several inches bigger. Im guessing it has to do with his diet and lighting. Thanks so much.

[rsour24]

it has a lot to do with the environment they are in. being in a 5 gallon tank im assuming he really could not physically grow any larger. also if the proper lights are not there they shell won;t develop properly. also depending on what pellets he was being fed they might not have had everything he needs

[steve]

It was probably environment and diet. If he were taken better care of, he probably could have grown out of that tank. I've seen and read some odd ways RES are kept and they appear healthy.