General Care Discussion :: NEED HELP!

[george]

I am a teacher and a catch and release fisherman from the state of PA. I spend much of my free time on the banks of the Schuylkill River. As I write this we near Philadelphia are experiencing an unusual warming trend for the month of December. Water temperature is currently in the mid-40's rising from about 40 degrees Fahrenheit a week ago. I have not seen any turtle activity for at least 6 weeks. I see many turtles during the Spring, Summer and early Fall but have NEVER seen turtle activity during the month of December.

This leads to my predicament. While fishing today I noticed a bunch of hatchling red ear sliders on the bottom of the river near the bank in about 2-3 feet of water. When I say a bunch there were well over 100. Many were on their backs and motionless while others were SLOWLY moving about and about 6 were resting on the surface. I have raised aquatic turtles and have read the info on your site and this makes NO sense to me. The river bottom where I found them is basically rocky. I've always understood that RES hibernate by digging into a muddy bottom.

What to do???? I decided that they needed to be rescued... I went against my better judgement of not to fool with Mother Nature. Well, I rescued most of them, but now have 100+ baby RES that need care. I currently have them spread out in four 20 gallon tanks with heaters and filtration. I KNOW they are overcrowded. When I impulsively captured them it was with the hope of keeping them until May when I usually see the RES hatchlings in our area and then release them.

Any suggestions or explanation as to why this phenomenon occured.
I need some advice fast.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

[steve]

I would guess that they were dumped there. I know there are a few aquatic species where hatchlings over winter, but I have never come across any information that RES are one of those. There are some adults which are more active during these mild winters, but it's unusual for wild RES to hatch this time of year.

I don't know what you can do about them. You can contact a rescue and maybe with that sort of story, you could generate some interest in them within the "community".

You might want to use a kiddie pool to keep them in. Some might keep minimal contact with them and release them after the winter. Though releasing RES in your area may be illegal, not to mention difficult considering the numbers.

[megcornell]

For the mean time I would get some rubbermaid or kiddie pools to separate them a bit more for the winter. You could try contacting a local shelter or herp rescue if you have one for help financially and with what to do with them.
I live in NY and am experiencing the warmth too, but at my lake I haven't seen any turtles so I'd have to agree with Steve that they were dumped, unfortunately.
You've done a wonderful thing by saving them, please let us know how things go and if there is anything we can do- find release sites, whatever.... good luck!

[kikicool]

Why not contact a local (small town) newspaper? They might cover it as a human interest story, and perhaps that would drum up interest.

Maybe also check out local pet stores. See one you find "acceptable" and offer to trade them for materials you may need. Or put up signs in pet stores?

Good work--I hope your good samaritan act does not go unrewarded. Fingers crossed for you!

[Muirner]

Maybe if you contact the local news, there will be some truth spread about the turtles. Maybe the misstreatment will slow.

How do they look? Are they healthy and strong? Or what?

[mkoby]

I wish I was closer to you. I'd take a couple off your hands! You could also try turtlehomes.org

[Thirzty Turtle]

hmm i live very close to you and it was in the high 50's today i was sweating. you should have left them in there.

[flutterby]

Just because it is a 50 degree air temp during the day doesn't mean its safe for hatchlings. It was dipping down into the 30's at night. Not to mention that water takes longer to warm than the air does so a 50 degree air temp doesn't mean that the water is even close to being that warm.

[george]

Maybe if you contact the local news, there will be some truth spread about the turtles. Maybe the misstreatment will slow.

How do they look? Are they healthy and strong? Or what?

Thanks for ALL the tips and advice... As of now in 4 heated aquariums ranging from 20 - 40 gallons in size they ALL (153- I got a chance to actually count them) seem to be EXTREMELY healthy. They are currently basking on structure in the aquaria. I was very hesititant about removing them from the river, but when a turtle remains on its back for an extended period of time (as many of them were) without attempting to right itself generally that is not a a good sign. I actually thought at least half of them were dead as I was gathering them, but to my surprise they are ALL thriving right now.

Are ReptoMin floating food sticks OK for the hatchlings?

[Kallistos]

Are they large enough to swallow them? There are actually reptomin baby sticks which are designed for smaller turtles. The reptomin brand itself is very nutricious. It'll be a challenge on making sure all of them get some food!

Great job on the rescue and keep up the hard work.

[VelvetAlley]

I don't have any useful advise just WOW! I'm goin with what Steve said, he's the boss.

[cam722]

I don't have much to add other than.. Hi from up the road.. I'm in Northeast PA.. and I know we've been having warmer weather but not warm enough to hatch turtles I don't think.. not to mention those RES aren't native to this area. Poor things. I go with contacting the news and seeing if that can generate any help. If I were in a position to help I'd surely do so

[george]

Are they large enough to swallow them? There are actually reptomin baby sticks which are designed for smaller turtles. The reptomin brand itself is very nutricious. It'll be a challenge on making sure all of them get some food!

Great job on the rescue and keep up the hard work.

I figured I would break them up, but I also noticed that after they soak for a bit they soften and the turtles are able to take bite size chunks from them.

I'll check into the baby sticks. Thanks for the tip!

As to making sure they ALL get their fair share?????????????????????

[george]

I don't have much to add other than.. Hi from up the road.. I'm in Northeast PA.. and I know we've been having warmer weather but not warm enough to hatch turtles I don't think.. not to mention those RES aren't native to this area. Poor things. I go with contacting the news and seeing if that can generate any help. If I were in a position to help I'd surely do so

I realize that they are not native to this area, but then again neither are most of the fish I catch and release. There is a large adult population of RES in the Schuylkill River and I see many healthy hatchlings during the Spring. The thing that puzzles me is the large concentration of these hatchlings in a small area. I tried to rescue them all but some were in deeper water and after being in the 46 degree water for about 15 minutes up to my waist I could barely move.

[SpotsMama]

Oh my gosh! What a predicament! You ought to get some sort of award for doing this!

You said you are a teacher. Is there any way that your school/college/ university could help? This might make a terrific science or ecology or biology project for some class(es). A group of teachers/serious students might be able to share the fun.