General Care Discussion :: Help for my turtles

[Vraptor140]

I came searching for care info for my turtles and I found this place.

I already read most of the info here, but I would like to get some advice from people.

My first turtle has been with me for about 1-2 years and now is pretty big and very active, however she's always been in too small tanks and has never had a place to bask or a special light in her life.

My two litte ones, or should I say my only little one (I think one died tonight) used to live together but as my first turtle in really small containers. One of them has always been stronger and faster, not so long ago at least one was sick, apparently it was a digestive problem but it was so short I was never able to see wich one or both were sick. For last two days the weaker one started to be more letargic, didnt swim and couldnt even get inside its shell. I separated them and I think she died.

I really dont want this to happen to my other turtles but I'm stuck where I cant get special things for turtles and vets that can handle them doesnt exist.

[WyredHardware]

where do you live?

[Vraptor140]

Is not that is issolated but theres around 15 pet stores in the city, very generic though, may have luck with the aquarium shops but even then this kind of things go out of the budget we have for a pet.

My turtles live on pellets I give them and depend on a full water change for being clean. Their water is kept at room temperature by itself.

[WyredHardware]

US? Canada? Europe?

What is room temperature? How big are your tanks? How big are the turtles? Do you have any basking area?

[Vraptor140]

I'll try to be more specific

The bigger one is around 11cm the other around 5cm.

The bigger one has a tank that look too small for her, pretty much something my little ones should be using. It has something that looks like a very bad basking area half her size.

The othe one has really shallow water with a raised island in the center. Its exactly like the one the big used to live in.

Pretty much none have enough space to swim freelly, and the water temp is never attended so its at whatever temperature my room has.

I live in Mexico, by the way.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

vraptor, we have a member from mexico and he may be able to tell you where to get the right supplys at and what vets to go at. I just Private messaged him. Hopefully he will log on soon.

They need water temperature at around 75 - 80 degrees, check with a thermometer, room temperature can mean anything from 65 degrees to 85 degrees, it's not acceptable.

You can offer vegetables to your turtle too. Stuff like romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, endives, raddichios, culantro are good. Pellets shouldnt be the only thing to feed.

Get your turtle a bigger tank, a plastic storage bin would work out fine and it is cheap, turtles need 10 gallons of water per every inch of their shell. They also need deep water. Be sure to read as much as you can, though..

[Vraptor140]

Thanks for that, making some measures I'll need around 50 gallons for my older turtle ans the surviving small one needs at least 20.

And the temperature should be between 24-27°C. You know.... I dont have a thermometer.

Info is not my problem right now but where to find the neccesary materials and how to pay them is my problem. Right now I have nothing besides different sized pelets, eyedrops and a calcium block.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Dont worry, relax..i'm sure the guy I contacted will come through for you, just be sure to keep coming back to the message board. Thermometers are cheap, a normal glass one probably wouldnt cost you that much at all, here in america they go for around 1$

If you do not have a lot of money, do not buy a glass tank. Go out and get a plastic storage bin, they might be called something different in spanish but here the companies who make them go by 'sterlite' and 'rubbermaid' they are cheap, and they make them all the way up to 60 gallons. If your water stays at atleast 75 degrees and only drops a degree or two at night, then you can skip the water heater.

Y hola mi nombre es eddie y yo no se hablar mucho espanol pero..se un poco, soy de miami pero mis padres de peru y nicaragua, bien venido a turtle talk! Crap..hope I didnt embarass myself

[Vraptor140]

I just try to take care of them, lets see

Wardley Turtle Bites, is the food for the small one

Kaytee Aquatic Turtle, is the pelets that my big girl eats, and shes got a bottomless stomach.

I'm just really sad one of my little ones just died. She's always been the weaker of the pair.

(and no, that wasnt that embarrasing eddie)

[kornygerm]

Well,first of all..Hablas español raptor?Cause that would be easier for me but anyway.
I actually dont live in Mexico city,but i have read online that there are vets especialized in herps..Actually i found some.

SERVICIO MÉDICO VETERINARIO ESPECIALIZADO PARA REPTILES Y ANFIBIOS:

MVZ PAOLA MENDOZA(10 AÑOS DE EXPERIENCIA EN MEDICINA DE HERPETOFAUNA)

Tel: (0155)53 94 08 94, cel: 044 55 34 90 21 17

e-mail: mvzreptilesyanfibios@yahoo.com.mx

Previa cita en: Calle C, #21. Col. Sn Marcos, Del. Azcapotzalco. Entre Antigua Calzada de Guadalupe y Refinerìa Azcapotzalco. A dos cuadras de Metro Azcapotzalco.

Tambièn servicio a domicilio en el D.F., área Metropolitana e Interior de la República.

Tambien un miembro de Dr Pez un día me recomendó a este veterinario:

Nombre Ariel Fernando Saldivar Flores

Telefonos 35380275, 36220108, 0445520815779
e-mail tecatlatl@yahoo.com.mx

nombre de la veterinaria Animal City México

Ubicación Periferico y 2 Boulevard a Queretaro, Municipio de Naucalpan, Estado de México, cerca del metro Cuatro Caminos, pasando Mundo Epor cierto su veterinaria es muy bonita y puedes encontrar muchas cosas para reptiles y anfibios e incluso ver su colleción de serpientes y reptiles y ademas es muy amable con los dueños y con los animales

Also, you are welcome to joined this forums as well,since most of the members are from Mexico and they are more experienced than i'am.
http://reslider.free.fr/es/index.html
http://www.drpez.net/panel/forumdisplay.php?f=129

Hope that was helpful!.

[Vraptor140]

Thanks kornygerm, si hablo español.

And neither I live in Mexico City, I live in Hermosillo. And I've searched for vets in the city. Neither of them looks especialized, but I have to get more detailed info.

EDIT
Right now I'm trying to change my older turtle diet, she seem very mad about not getting tons of pellets and find the vegies as interesting as rocks. Tried to give her carrot (hope to get lettuce soon), not even a bite sized piece appeals to her, as soon as she finds it doesnt taste like pellet she spits it.