General Care Discussion :: Turtle doesnt have a tail

[TurtleGirl08]

I got a turtle from a friend, and I noticed that it didnt have a tail. I got three of them from my friend because he could no longer care for them, The other two have tails but the one doesnt, I have looked at it pretty close and it is completely healed over it didnt just happen at all. It looks like it never grew a tail. So I asked my friend if he noticed this and he said he did right after he bought them, But just kept her. So since she has been like this since the pet store basicly, Is she okay? I mean there are no signs of it hurting her and I know one of the other turtles didnt do it to her So is she going to be okay

[SpotsMama]

The important things are that the wound is completely healed (no infection) and that she can still poop normally. If a turtle loses her tail too close to her body, she won't be able to poop normally and, down the road, won't be able to lay her eggs.


How can you be sure another turtle didn't bite off her tail? That can happen.

[TurtleGirl08]

Well it may of happened at the pet store, I was just saying the turtles that she lives with didnt do it to her. I actualy think it is a boy, I think there all boys because they all have very long claws and it says that females have short ones, So i think its a boy but i am not really sure. he seems to be going to the bathroom just fine, I never really noticed. any advice would be good.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Can you post pictures of them, focusing on the claws and the tails? The people on the board will help identify a gender to be sure.

[marisa]

As long as the wound is healed and the cloaca is still there, the turtle should be OK. If you're not sure of the gender, and if the shell length is around 4 inches, posting a pic of the tail (and underside) and front claws would be good.

[TurtleGirl08]

I will get them up as soon as I can. There is nothing there it looks like she never even growed a tail. It really looks like there was never one there can this been possible?? Because if it was bite off there should be a nub or something??