Photo Gallery :: pics of the turtles

[hhisc383]

The first 2 are my map turtle




And the next 2 are my sliders

[jenaero]

nice pics, but it looks like the slider in the last pic has a pretty substantial case of pyramiding. What and how much are you feeding them?

[hhisc383]

i feed them the pellets, about the size of their head's amount...carrots once in a while, cooked chicken few and far between, and lettuce.

[jenaero]

It looks to me like at least one is growing too fast. How big/old are the res? If they're over a year, you can reduce the feeding pellets to every other day or less. Mine started to show pyramiding and are now down to twice a week with varied veggies every day. Their shells have improved a lot. Read the 'What to feed' and 'What not to feed' lists in the 'Feeding and Nutrition' section and that will give you an idea on how to better their diet. Same basic stuff applies to maps/cooters as well.

[hhisc383]

ok thanks for the advice. the bigger one (with pyramiding) at first ate everything and didnt let the little one eat. i started seperating them when i fed them, and it got better...i'll try what you suggested. i got them in june and they were very small...not sure how old.

[vieniebebe]

can any1 please tell me what pyramiding is?

[BROOKLYN]

can any1 please tell me what pyramiding is?

Pyramiding is caused by overfeeding your turtle(s) usually from large consumptions of protein and fat. This leads to rapid growth which causes the shell to form a pyramid structure and bumpy scutes. It's pretty severe, no different from a human. Overweight has always been an issue; especially in the US. You can't do anything to change it back but you can vary their diet more by offering more vegetables and feeding less. High water temperatures also speeds up their growing rate.

[ellman605]

i heard if you vary their diet before they're full grown, they can grow into it....but once their full size, it cant be reversed, is that true?

[BROOKLYN]

i heard if you vary their diet before they're full grown, they can grow into it....but once their full size, it cant be reversed, is that true?

Basically. It's more natural for turtles (even us) to grow at a steady rate. For example, if you have a yearling that's already 6-7 inches in length, that's a serious health issue and needs to be looked into. Whether it's too late or not, that's a different issue. No different from a baby who's a year old but weights 50lbs. But unlike us, turtles can't change that. Once that shell grows into that 6-7inches, there's no way its going back down to 3-4inches. It is also extremely painful for the turtle as well. It's like trying to fit in a XS shirt when you're are suppose to be wearing a large.

[ellman605]

oh, at first i was thinking you said XL shirt, that wouldnt have made sense :P

i'm glad my turtles died down of the pyramiding

[TinySlider2]

cute turtles. I like how the map turtles are marked.

[Tequila Turtle x3]

Those Are Great Pictures!! What Cuute Turtles!