General Care Discussion :: Hatchlings: Nails fell off..

[Azfar]

I just got 2 RES hatchlings about a week..

I saw 2 nails at the bottom of the plastic flat bowl where I put my hatchlings. So I inspect at one of my hatchlings and yes that there is no nails (front legs) left and right each one.

Is it normal that hatchling nails could fell off just like dat? I think the nails bed is ok.. will the nails grow back? why and how it happen?

[steve]

It is not normal for them to fall off. Whether they grow back is if the nail beds are intact. You should separate them in case they've been fighting OR one of the turtles is carrying an infection.

[industrial_girl_2000]

More than likely, they have been fighting or the other turtle bit the nails off. Keep a close eye on them for the time being, and if they are fighting or biting each other, you will be forced to separate them.

[zoologist]

the nature center i volunteer at has a diamond back terrapin that has no nails. she has normal feet.... just no claws. they found her like that and raised her.
just an interesting story

[marisa]

How big are your hatchlings? How big is the tank that they're in?

Is there any nail left in the nail bed? Have the nail beds been injured at all? About a year and a half ago one of my painteds bit the nail on his tank mate down to the nail bed and it took forever to grow back. Check the one with the missing nails to see if he has any other signs of having been bitten on his limbs, neck, tail, etc. If you see anything, he's going to need his own set-up.

If the nail beds appear swollen at all, or if they appear whitish, clean the areas with chlorohexidine (you can get Hibiclens in a pinch and dilute it in half with water) to help prevent infection.

[Azfar]

My both hatchlings were 1.2 inch age a week..

I think their tank is quite big for them but I dunno the size..

I always watching them and never see any sign of fighting or aggression.. they are doing they own things like sleeping, basking and eating.

The nails bed looks fine for me. The one with nail is gone, the area looks ok too, no swollen.. not sure about the whitish..

[Azfar]

what do you all thinks? I took some picture to see more clear the problem..

Still sleeping even I pick her out from the tank.. hehe


Right leg


Left leg


Please look at the third nail.. seems going to fall soon.. hmm..


This where I put my hatchlings..


I think the nails bed looks fine n O K

[zoologist]

omg... please tell me that is NOT your tank for them.....


i'm sorry, you really need to read the tank guidelines and get an upgrade ASAP!

[marisa]

With the 3rd nail bent like that, it does look like it's been bitten...

And is that their normal enclosure?

[SpotsMama]

They are such sweet little turtles.

I'm going to volunteer something you didn't even ask about - I hope you don't mind. I'm very worried about the health of these turtles. Little turtles are normally very skittish and energetic - they run like mad when they see a person coming and they swim around with a lot of energy. You shouldn't be able to just pick one up like the one in the first photo. He/she looks like a turtle that's feeling bad and tired. Also, their eyes look swollen to me. Swollen eyes are another symptom of illness.

When turtles are ill, you should keep them warmer than usual. They should be kept at 80 to 82 degrees. Also, they should avoid stress as this uses up the energy they need to fight off illness; ie, don't pick them up unless you have to. They need to be kept very clean and they need to eat. If they stop eating, you can offer them tasty treats like a little tuna or boiled chicken or shrimp.

Unfortunately, we've seen a lot of cases on here where people get turtles from a place where they weren't being taken care of properly and they are already ill when they get into their new home. If the place that sold you the turtles also sold you the setup, then my guess is they weren't taking good care of the turtles and they didn't advise you well as to how to care for them at home.

Are you able to find a good herp vet where you live? I seem to recall that there aren't many in Kuala Lumpur.

[Azfar]

First of all, thank you so much for the response and advices.

Yes I know the tank is not the proper one but dats all I can afford. I can't have a real big tank with good filteration, basking area and those light til I stay permanent at one house (i.e my parent house). I'm still studying and move a lot from another place to other places. So I have to bring my turtles as well wherever I go. Hmm..

*I WILL buy a big tank and those equipment end of this year after I finish study and stay at my parent house. PROMISE

Spotsmama - About the first pic, I just pick her up to take some photo to show the nails bed. I'm sorry for dat.. I wouldn't do dat anymore.

Emm actually I did send you a message about my hatchlings, I'm asking about the whitish at their skin. Its been a week and the whitish (fungus) is gone but I'm not sure whether totally gone or not. Thats why my hatchlings eyes looks like swollen because before this the white spot were near to the eyes.. since I can't get the Repti Turtle Sulfa Dip so I always change their water (from filtered tap) every 2 hours and make it warmer.

Since I got them, they never had problem eating. I give them Nutrafin pellets, lettuce and cuttlebone. They eat all.. owh ya, their poo also looks fine (no any sign of parasits)

Bad news, there is no a good herp vet in Kuala Lumpur. I've search everywhere and no hint at all. Only normal vet for cats and dogs.

[marisa]

The Repti Sulfa Dip is not a cure-all, and probably wouldn't help much, if at all, even if you could get it...

I know you need to change the water frequently since they're in such a small enclosure, but why are you doing it every two hours? It can't be to cool the water down, because you say you have to make the water warmer...

Have you tried calling a regular vet and asking if s/he could recommend someone who knows about turtles? Do you have any zoos, public aquariums or animal parks in KL (it's been a long time since I was there and I can't remember)? If so, contact them and ask if they know of anyone who could look at your turtle.