General Care Discussion :: First time for everything - Sheba at the Vet!

[industrial_girl_2000]

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later that I would have to take Sheba to the Vet.

Sheba has been shedding scutes during the last week, and last night one scute was curling up so I just helped it off gently, revealing a small flesh-colored area (!). That kind of freaked me out because I didn't have to pull to make this scute come off, it just came off & the area underneath was bleeding just a tiny bit too (broken capillary)! No smell to the area & it wasn't soft, just a light flesh color. Strange. So I immediately dry-docked her for the night, and scheduled an appt. with the Vet this morning to make sure that it wasn't going to develop into something serious. Over night, the area had dried nicely and was no longer pink. I packed Sheba up in her large red plush shoe & large plastic storage container & off to the Vet we went.

I held Sheba so that the Vet could examine her. This was definitely a 2-person job. Sheba did NOT like to be poked & prodded and fought us both all the way. But the conclusion was very positive: Doc said that Sheba is very strong/alert/muscular (all signs of good calcium levels). She recommended many dark green leafy veggies, keeping the affected areas of the shell clean with betadine solution (once a week over the whole shell with a fine brush & allow to dry....helps prevent infection), & more UVB to make sure she continues to have good calcium absorption. She said that it can take many yrs for any kind of pitting or weak spots to show up in the shell, but that once the right level of UVB is added, they can make a complete recovery. And honestly, folks, until I found this website 8 months ago, I didn't know much about UVB/UVA at all. Broad spectrum plant lighting was all Sheba got for many yrs. (again there was very little good info available regarding turtle care back then!). Education rocks....

Sheba's Mercury Vapor 100W basking bulb ("Powersun UV") just came in the mail today & I installed it immediately, replacing her old broad spectrum plant bulb. I also tossed in a water neutralizer calcium block & she immediately started chomping/biting at it (makes me wonder why she won't eat the cuttlebone the way she eats those neutralizer blocks????). No biggie, at least she is getting a good calcium source.

$42 at the Vet bought me some good peace of mind today.

Oh yeah, and for all those of you who were curious, thanks to the Vet I now know how much she weighs: Sheba is 4.4 lbs (2 Kilos).

[Kallistos]

Good to hear that isn't nothing serious. It's always good to have your turtle's records at the vet, so if there's an emergency you can rush there and they'll have all the information on file. The MVB's are awesome, I hope Sheba makes a speedy recovery!

[SpotsMama]

Wow! Good thing you checked that scute! I'm awfully glad Sheba is doing well. I think we all take a rather personal interest in her - she's special.

[CountryGirl68]

Glad to hear it wasn't anything really serious. Bet she's happy to be back home, though.

[mkoby]

Kristen! I hope everything is ok. Let me know if you need anything. By the way, which vet did you end up going to? It never hurts to have a list handy.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Kristen! I hope everything is ok. Let me know if you need anything. By the way, which vet did you end up going to? It never hurts to have a list handy.

I went to a place called "Animal Kingdom" in Ann Arbor, Michigan (4920 Ann Arbor Saline Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103, (734) 913-0003). They do see quite a few turts/reptiles there from what I understand, and I was very pleased to see 2 fairly large aquarium set ups in the waiting room when I showed up. 1 setup had little bright yellow frogs (humid, rainforest style set up), the other had some kind of dry land horned lizards basking on some rocks (all looked healthy & clean). And the Vet who checked Sheba out has a small male RES turtle as a pet! So this all helped reassure me that I made a good choice.

Animal Kingdom isn't exactly around the corner for me (approx. 45 min drive, all hwy, no traffic), but I wanted to make sure Sheba has a vet that really understands her.

Thanks to all for your kind comments!

[industrial_girl_2000]

Quick update: I went home at lunch today to find Sheba basking under her new Powersun UV lamp. She was all nice & dry, so I am happy to report that she is getting a nice dose of UVB!

Also, went out & bought a 20Gal (long) tank & 75W submersible heater today for the new RES baby I will adopt from Mybrosteve this weekend. As I was walking thru the pet supplies, I was admiring all those nice underwater plants & little toys (like the glass rocks that JELslider has in her tank with Cortez) that I will be now able to take advantage of for the new baby! There are SOOO many cool aquarium items I can't use with Sheba because she is too big (plants, etc.). I always admire the lovely things you guys with hatchlings put in your tanks & can't wait to shop shop shop!!!

The plan is to use the 20gal tank until baby RES is 2.5-3" length, then order an aquarium very much like Sheba's for him/her. The 20gal tank will then be used for my aquatic frog, who I'm sure would love a bigger home than his current fishbowl. Frog fishbowl will then be passed on to the betta, who is also in a tank that is currently slightly too small. Everyone will benefit in the long run!

[BullDog]

Good to hear all is well! 4 pounds! Wow!!!

You've got to love "turtle hand-me-downs" ^_^

[lotsofpets]

Do you still have your 55 gallon tank and equipment that you used to have for Sheba? When your hatchling outgrows his/her 20 gallon long, it will be an upgrade for it. I have been through a few African clawed frogs. I had one that I kept in a fishbowl for eight months. I bought a long rubbermaid that held about ten gallons, a heater and already had a little undergravel filter - I thought he would really enjoy it - he died the next day after I put him in his new home!

[industrial_girl_2000]

Do you still have your 55 gallon tank and equipment that you used to have for Sheba? When your hatchling outgrows his/her 20 gallon long, it will be an upgrade for it. I have been through a few African clawed frogs. I had one that I kept in a fishbowl for eight months. I bought a long rubbermaid that held about ten gallons, a heater and already had a little undergravel filter - I thought he would really enjoy it - he died the next day after I put him in his new home!

I don't have the 55 gal tank anymore...when I got rid of it, it was already 12 yrs old & the silicone was literally rotting away! I didn't want to take a chance on it leaking, so I let the guys who brought Sheba's tank take the 55 gal away along with the stand. I didn't think I would need it again & at the time hadn't planned on getting another turtle.

Prog the frog is 6.5 yrs old (I have had him for almost all that time), living in a 1 gallon plastic fishbowl. The Betta fish has been with me for 1.7 yrs now living in a smaller container. I have never had a heater for the frog or the betta. From what I understand, african clawed frogs like cooler water so a heater really isn't necessary. But they do like a place to hide so they don't feel so "exposed".....I found that info out about 5 yrs after I had him! Yeesh. Oh well, he doesn't seem to be unhappy....sings all the time & always lunges at the side of his container every time I walk by ("begging for food").

Too bad about your little frog dying after you upgraded his set up! He must not have realized that the fun was just starting & that he just needed to hang in there for a while!

[Hoooneylynn]

Glad to hear Sheba is okay Kristin! I can't believe.. that was her first time to the vet EVER?? You are such a good mommy, and have taken such good care of her. Thanks for the reply too... 4.4 lbs?? wow! and shes 11 inches right? I cant wait until my baby gets that big!

[industrial_girl_2000]

Glad to hear Sheba is okay Kristin! I can't believe.. that was her first time to the vet EVER?? You are such a good mommy, and have taken such good care of her. Thanks for the reply too... 4.4 lbs?? wow! and shes 11 inches right? I cant wait until my baby gets that big!

Yup, 1st time at the vet! I attribute that to warm/clean water, lots of food, a load of attention, and a TON of prayer.....

[cute is what we aim for]

yay Shebas fine =]

[steve]

Very glad to hear the news and I'm impressed at the fast response!

[industrial_girl_2000]

Thanks for all the kind words, all, and I am happy to report that the light color imperfection on the shell seems to be "tanning" (turning a healthy looking brown). The areas I was worried about seem to be darkening up a bit to match the surrounding brown areas of her shell (starting to turn brown). I think the Powersun UVB bulb I am using is starting to pay off & she is "tanning." YAY!!!!