Gurgi is an Eastern Painted Turtle. He came into our lives near death. My husband who is a Maintenance Supervisor of several apartment communities came upon a 10 gallon fish tank filled with what look like black mud. When he returned 1 month later and noticed that the same 10 gallon fish tank was still in the same spot and not disposed of, he asked the on-site techs of the community why it hadn't been disposed of. They told him because there is a turtle in there! After closer examination... sure enough there was a tiny turtle in all the disgusting muck! He was a little bigger than a quarter.
Being animal lovers, we brought him home that day - June 16th. We rushed out and picked up all the necessities to save this little guy's (or so we hope he is male) life. The little guy was floating, seemed to not know how to swim, as the deep water of the tank seemed to freak him out. And once we got him a basking lamp and platform, barely left. I adjusted the water level lower, added some fake plants so he had something else to hold on to. And after a month or so, start to add more and more water, removed the fake plants.
He is no longer floating. He loves to swim in his much deeper tank now. And interacts with us incredibly well... will rush over to the side of the tank we are on with such excitement, and begging of course. We have fallen truly in love with the little guy.
After a 1 1/2 month, I believe we are well on our way to have a long time family member. But I have some concerns. I believe due to the deplorable conditions we found him in, I might have gone too fast in rehabilitating him. His shell does not seem to be forming well. Please take a look at these pictures and help me out! Or perhaps, it is nothing... I am just a first time turtle mommy and I have anxiety! Thanks so much!
