General Care Discussion :: Update on Dolphin

[GabieB]

My first post was Jan 4 concerning my baby RES's shell (http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... highlight=). I thought ya'll might like an update and to see his new tank set-up. Dolphin is now 3", doubled in size since January, so he still seems to be growing very fast. He loves his veggies now and gets lots of them (turnip or green/red leaf lettuce daily, carrots every other day, zucchini once in a while, and anacharis always avail in his tank). The only other food he's getting is Reptomin logs (1/8 tsp once a day). I did give him some dandelion leaves, but only once because hubby got to the yard and sprayed chemicals since then. Before I switched his tank (2 days ago), he was basking every day and seemed a very happy turtle. As you can see in the photos below, his shell is still not regular looking. It is hard, though, and his pattern has come back though doesn't look very bright when he's dry. There are some dips on his 2nd & 3rd costal scutes (2nd photo), but on both sides, so idk if that's normal or not. He has never shed his baby scutes, but I guess that happens in it's own time. I've read about pyramiding and am wondering if that's what the ridges are that have formed as his shell has grown. Should I cut back more on his food? When should he move to the every other day feeding schedule?



His new tank is a 50 gal and is much bigger than he's used to (prev 10 gal). I think that's why he's been more shy since switching, that and his new spot is brighter and busier (though only across the room). Last night he was swimming around the perimeter of the tank so fast that I could hardly get a photo that wasn't blurred. Today he is calmer and has come out to look at us like he usually does.




I have two Fluval 4+ filters, both with one sponge replaced with the carbon pad. But, will someone please explain what the extra piece where the water comes out is for? I found that it blows bubbles into the water if I turn the top, but it's noisy. The water was cloudy at first, but has cleared up nicely today. Since these photos I have added a background to hide the cords and hopefully make him feel less "out in the open". He likes to hide in the plants under his dock.

Thanks everyone, for being so helpful to us new turtle people!

[industrial_girl_2000]

He looks very well-fed & otherwise healthy. The "dry" shell looks fine to me also. He may eventually shed his baby scutes, but it doesn't look bad in terms of the shell not being "shiny." Most turtles are not shiny when they are dry. That can be from minerals in the water drying on the shell making it look whitish or dull. No biggie.

Pyramiding can happen from him growing so fast (overeating) & I do see what you mean about that. You could cut back a little bit on what you are feeding him. If you have anacharis always available, you don't always have to give him anything in addition to that. I would still give him pellets daily until he reaches the 4" mark, then cut back the pellets to once every 2 days.

[marisa]

He looks like he has scutes galore to shed (the ridges are the scutes that have been piling up on top of each other as they grow from underneath)---especially in the second pic.

It sounds like you've adjusted his diet, which is good. How much does he bask? Does he have both a UVB light and heat light?

[GabieB]

Thank you, industrial girl, for the advice on feeding. Marisa, he has both lights. He was basking a lot before moving to the new tank, but hasn't been up on his new dock yet. At first I think it may have been too hot. His thermometer stopped working, so I had to go pick up a new one and when I did, it measured over 105 degrees. I've moved the heat lamp back so that it now measures at 95. His water is at 79, so I'd think temps are good and hope he'll try out the dock soon.