General Care Discussion :: a couple questions

[pumpkinsherbet]

i just want to make sure my little ones are okay...

john has lost a good deal of his sociality. since i got the new (much bigger) tank and added more water (originally 8 gallons, now it's 14) he's just spending all his time in his hiding cave. when he's out (i usually have to take him out for food or to clean up the tank) he swims just fine. he's active, nestles up to me. he just won't get out of his cave. is he stressed out or should i be looking out for something?

then there's aeryn. i was such a bad mommy lastnight. when i cleaned out their tank they were nestled up to me. i thought not to disturb them so i carefully walked over to the tank, holding my arms as such to make sure they didn't fall. poor aeryn took a fall anyway. i'd say she fell about 4½' down, landed plastron-down on the carpet. i picked her up and quickly checked for injury. doesn't seem to be any. she immediately ran to me and started nestling (at least she's not mad at me). she's still very active, and hasn't shown any signs of trauma. but i want to make sure there's not anything i missed.

thank you.

[industrial_girl_2000]

It's normal for the babies to want to hide in the tank when they see you. I think it is an instinct that they are born with (hide from anything large coming at ya) and as they grow, they become less skiddish since they understand that that big thing coming at them has food in their hand! Siobhan is still very shy about basking with me in the house, but after a week he actually did start basking when I wasn't around (I saw the wet spot on the basking area). Progress comes slowly especially when they are babies.

Good for you for filling up your tank more! They will love the extra room to swim.

Sounds like you kinda spooked them when you started walking with them on your arm. As tame as a turtle can get when they are sitting with you, make sure that you just hold them firmly so that doesn't happen again (I know I prolly don't have to tell you that, but I am just saying it anyway). If Aeryn fell on her plastron on the carpet (vs. falling on her head or on an arm/leg) then chances are she will be fine, just watch for any unusual symptoms in the next day or so (bleeding from mouth/nose, swimming funny, cracks in the plastron). If you notice anything unusual, take her to the vet.

[steve]

There's always the possibilities of internal injuries and I agree that you should keep a very close eye on them.

[pumpkinsherbet]

Sounds like you kinda spooked them when you started walking with them on your arm.

actually what happened was she just moved a bit then walked right off my arm before i could catch her. she still seems to be doing okay, very active. played peekaboo with me this morning (i have a little mirror in the tank, she'll get behind it, then come out, go in again, then come out. she'll do that a couple times before she either goes in the cave or comes out for a swim).

internal injuries ~ so what all should i be looking out for? there's been no bleeding, and she swims the same.

i caught john outside the cave. yay!

[industrial_girl_2000]

internal injuries: things like bleeding from the mouth/nose, unusual poop color (normally should be a brown or olive green color depending on what they ate), if she stops eating, or goes up on the basking dock and sits with eyes closed the whole time & arms/legs/head pulled in. Also, if she seems to not want to use a particular arm or leg to swim (indicative of a sprain or a break).

Just continue to keep a close eye on her.

[pumpkinsherbet]

well, it's got a little bit of orangeish. but that was before that happened, right after i fed her carrots. is that normal?

[industrial_girl_2000]

Some foods can definitely change the color of a turtle's shell. I know some people on the board have mentioned that carrots or krill can add an orangeish tint to their belly. It's not harmful to them.