General Care Discussion :: Is this normal????

[citystar]

We have 2 RES that were found in our pool skimmer one week apart - (August 23rd & 30th). They were both the same size when found, but now one is twice as big as the other!!

Have been feeding them ReptoMin Floating Food Sticks - approx 3-4 sticks, twice daily with occasional veggies.

Is this normal? Or is something wrong with the little one? They are both very active and both eat well.

Any advice is well appreciated!

[francinemarie]

the bigger one may be a girl & the smaller a boy.

[SpotsMama]

That's an original place to get your turtles!

The big one may very well be more aggressive and stealing the food. Try feeding them separately, or else remove the big one from the tank so the little one can eat in peace.

Watch for signs of more overt aggression by the large one towards the small one, or of the little one feeling stressed. If that starts to happen, they will have to be separated.

[ScrewZoo]

Yes you should try to watch what they eat.. hand feeding, or take the other out while u feed one.

[untsmurf]

Is it too late now to return them to the wild?

[SpotsMama]

I'd be reluctant to return them to the wild now because it's gettting late in the year. I'm not sure where in Arkansas this is, but here in Dallas it's in the 60's at night and low 80's in the day, and very soon we'll be in the 50's. So far as I know Arkansas is quite a bit ahead of us in seasons so it's probably pretty cool there already and it would take the turtles awhile to adjust and start their hibernation. Would there be enough time? Also, they've had two months to get used to being hand fed, so they'd need to relearn how to feed themselves.

Someone else could see it differently, of course. It's sort of marginal, IMO.

[PcBuilder14]

Just depends on what the temperatures is right now.