General Care Discussion :: Hatchling Found - new pics!

[untsmurf]

If you're going to release him, I know you know you have to do it now. You can't keep him till he gets older then release him. Either way, I think the turtle will do well. Don't keep him out of pity. Keep him because you want him and you can care for him properly.

I think you should hit that lady and her husband upside the head once for everyday they kept this little guy.

[AllisonChains]

I thought about that, but I instead was just quite rude to her. I mean, they weren't neighbors that I really liked, anyway. Our kids play together and that's it.

They are as irresponsible with their kids as their pets, not including the turt.

I have been able to get him to eat a tiny bit, but not a lot. I think he seems to be pretty healthy otherwise. I am trying to locate a nice remote place for him away from major roads and houses. I am going to look at a place today that I think may be good.

I keep thinking that I will already have everything for him when he gets bigger (tank and all that) because I have it for Izzy. I will just have to be upgrading her stuff not his.

See, I foolishly rationalize crap like that and that is what gets me in trouble!

[steve]

Keeping this hatchling is up to you. No doubt you can provide quality care, and if you have the space and time... though you might want to discuss it with the fam first

[RESnTX]

Oh my.....you must resist the cute baby.....lol.....be strong!

[AllisonChains]

Tracie - I am going to have to come back and read that every day for support!!

Steve - the fam is simply my daughter and myself and the 4 legged ones and they all don't offer much support either way, especially the kid!

[AllisonChains]

I am not planning to do anything with the baby until after Gustav decides what the heck HE is going to do, but in the meantime - I never see him basking. I got him some fake plants that he absolutely loves to hang out in - all day. He loves them.

He will eat - and is eating quite well, but never basks.

I still have the same light as previously mentioned, a regular 75 watt house light bulb. I still have the old 75 watt halogen from the old tank, but it seemed to get way too hot for the 10 gallon. Should I try and switch them and see if that helps? We do take him outside during the day to get some sun, too.

[mat012]

I;m with tracie. Think of the time, the money ... the potential vet bills and future hurricanes... One is plenty.

[Rexamus]

My turtle looked just like this little guy when he showed up on my back patio!!!!! He didn't like to bask at first either but he loved hanging out in the fake "duckweed" plant that we got for him. Now that I think about it, he never actually starting basking until I uppted the wattage on his basking light. I started with a 75 Watt in his 40 gal. tank and he didn't start basking until I switched to the 100 Watt. I realize you have a 10 gallon but try the 75 watt ZooMed and see if he likes it. You never know...

[turtlelover818]

cute plz keep him

[untsmurf]

You could try putting some of the fake foliage around his basking area to allow him some sense of security. He might have the new turtle syndrome-too shy to bask.

Taking him out in the sun might be stressing him out. Try letting him settle in for a few days, if he still refuses to bask, then a trip outside would be beneficial.