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Hi. i'm starting this thread because after reading some post from the new users (and my situation) it seems that there are a number of people adopting RES because the previous owners have neglected their responsibilities or don't know how to care for their RES.

I guess the question now would be: "How to take care of abused/neglected turtles?"

i mean, with mine, i thought I was getting him a better home when i got him a bigger place. But it turns out that it is not enough. Mine now eats and begs a lot now. But he will only eat if i turn my back on him. He's generally pretty shy of people, unless he wants food.

As for behavior, he rearranges his rocks and wedges himself betweem those. though when I put in a new rock, he makes it a point to explore it. taking little "love bites" at it and walking over it. For some reason, he stares at me while I smoke... or when i'm playing club music in my home office. Party turtle? Rebellious because he was neglected? Haha.

I'm not going to do the "tough love" thing yet until i get him a new place (the big storage boxes that they sell at DIY shops here). I'll start shopping for his supplies soon though. I want him to grow big and healthy.

Just a note. Most pet shops here in the Philippines sell RES that are 1" in lenght. I got ,mine at around 0.95". There are some that sell bigger ones that are around 2" long. Though most of them are pretty neglected.

So, any tips on how to rehabilitate these little guys? When I get a grasp of how to take care of them and their financial impact, I might adopt another.

For people who are rescueing turts from a bad situation, it wouldn't hurt to have them checked over by a herp vet.

It is also important to make sure that what you are providing for your new friend is considered a correct set up. If you take a turt from a bad situation and just put it in another bad situation, then you have not done the turtle any favors.

I haven't seen any posts about the effects of smoking near your turtle in a long time, and I really don't remember what was mentioned. However, if you choose to smoke near your pets there isn't much that anyone on here can do about that anyway.

Another important factor when changing environment is getting started on a healthy diet. Most turts haven't had veggies, or a least a variety like they should, and getting them to change could be difficult. Generally the younger a turt is started on veggies, the easier it is to get them to eat them. For older turts who are uninterested in their veggies, you can try soaking the veggies in tuna juice, or mixing it with a bit of canned cat food. Tough love is an important part of that too.

I guess the last thing I have to add would be about adjustment. Your RES will probably be shy when you first get him/her. It will take some time to get used to the new set up. The turt may not bask when you are in the room, and may not have an appetite. Providing a hiding place for your turt would be good, as well as some plants to hide in and cling to. They don't have to be real.

It is normal for turtles to rearrange rocks, to check out new things, and to stare at humans.

I strongly urge you not to smoke around him. He does not have the same nose parts that mammals do, so he has no protection.

I don't know what "tough love" thing you are talking about.

I took the tough love to refer to the begging for food, and feeding pellets when the turt refused veggies. I could be wrong.

yep. Got that term here. =P