General Care Discussion :: Is there anything wrong with him?

[Kai.]

It might be the new floating docks that I got them, it's big, and the surface isn't 100% smooth. Help please.

[kaimarion]

The pictures not too clear , have you been feeding him carrots???

[marisa]

What exactly are you referring to---the redness of the plastron? If so, it looks like something has been rubbing it; how abrasive are the docks you bought him? Are you letting him crawl on anything outside the tank that's abrasive?

Carrots wouldn't make the plastron that color. The pink in the seam (line in between the scutes) is probably from growth. The plastrons of hatchlings aren't always perfectly flat.

[Kai.]

yea, it's probably the floating docks then. They kind of imitate sedimentary rock, so it might be the corners of the layers. I don't feed him carrots.

[marisa]

If they're abrasive/have sharp edges, I'd get another basking dock. Wearing down the shell isn't good. Corkbark makes a nice basking area and isn't abrasive.

[Kai.]

well.. it's not really sharp, but it literally floats on the water, so they have to boost themselves up.would it be because they're too small for it?

[SpotsMama]

Is it the zoo med turtle dock, like this?

[Kai.]

nope. Like.. it's not attached to anything. It literally just floats around. It's like an artificial rock, and it doesn't have a part that's in the pater, meaning they kind of have to boost themselves up. ;;.

[SpotsMama]

If it's rough or has sharp edges it could be injuring the bottom of his shell. Also, does he have trouble getting up on the dock? Would you consider getting one of the zoo med docks? They work pretty well, lots of people use them and I've never heard of one damaging the bottom of turtle's shell.

[Kai.]

they're $30 here though. I'll get some big stones from my backyard and but them in there for now. I wanna get one... but I don't know if it'll be the same with my parents since I just bought the other one ^^".
He doesn't have trouble getting up, but depending on which side he gets on sometimes his shell comes into contact with the dock.

[marisa]

If the dock floats around, it's harder for them to get on it whether they're big or small (free-floating docks are harder for larger turtles to get on). I'd try for one of those Zoo-Med docks---rocks can be abrasive even if they look smooth.

[untsmurf]

And if you just bought, then try taking it back and exchanging it.

[SpotsMama]

yes, rocks can quickly damage a turtle's shell even if they seem to be smooth. My turtle Spot learned that the hard way.

The zoo med docks come in three sizes. Usually the small one is a lot cheaper than $30. Maybe the $30 is for a large dock. Why don't you check to see if there's not a smaller cheaper one somewhere. It will be quite a while before your little turtle needs a large dock!

[Kai.]

quite true >> I can't exchange them cause I bought them in HK xD. I'll see to getting a new one. Thanks for your help guys.