General Care Discussion :: Happy turtle, wonderful forum (& question about temp &am

[kikicool]

Hello, all! I wrote last week about my little turtle Shmiegel. He wasn't eating, wasn't basking... well! I just wanted to let you know he's doing SO much better!! He's eating his reptile sticks. We started noticing that, when we walk into the room, he dives in the water from his basking rock--meaning he HAS been basking.

Today... he BASKS IN FRONT OF ME! I'm so thrilled. I was just sitting here (he's in my home office) and turned around. There he was!!

Just wanted to report the good news. He's a happy little thing!

Of course I also have two quick questions: the water temp in his tank tends to be about 79. Is this too hot? because when I cleaned his tank, I noticed some of his scutes (scoots?) had come off. They were in the gravel. I ASSUME this is just part of growing but wanted to check.

Second question: he STILL WON'T EAT VEGGIES!! I soaked carrots in fish oil. Nuthin'! I "planted" a huge leaf of lettuce for him to munch on (he ignores floating things). And nothing! Should I stop feeding him sticks until he eats some veggies? I don't feel comfortable with that solution at all.

Oh--and I'm still working on a picture. We let him wander on the porch yesterday. Our dogs examined him. Of course, he tucked into his shell, but then when they wandered off a BIT, he came out and eyed them up, went on his way. They all seem interested in each other. He seemed to be following them?

Who knew a little turtle could bring SO much joy!

[jenaero]

I'm assuming your turt is a hatchling? If so, water temp around 78 is fine. Also, don't expect him to take to veggies right away. You don't need to try the tough-love approach just yet. Offer veggies every other day or so and he'll take to it eventually (keep offering pellets for now too).

I'm not crazy about letting turtles outside or around other animals (dogs, etc.) I've heard of so many turts getting lost/injured this way that it's just not worth the risk. Please re-think that one.

[kikicool]

Well, I'm not sure he's a hatchling. He's about 4 inches across already. Is the temp still okay? Thanks for the advice on the veggies. I'll just keep plugging away!

I don't disagree about letting him out and about. I was cleaning his tank, and my boyfriend was "on gaurd." (for someone who was reluctant to have a turtle, he's Shmiegel's biggest fan!) Also there's no way off our porch. IUt's concrete, and we have a gate b/c of the dogs. However, that being said... I DID decide yesterday to get him a little rubber tub for such occasions. I wasn't crazy about him walking all over either. Is a rubber tub okay? Just for cleaning? I figured it was good to get some sunlight.

But no being around the dogs, huh? Too bad. if that's a common cause of injury, though, it's not worth the risk.

[kikicool]

Oh! One more question: is it okay if there is a screen between him and the basking light? The screen is a typical black screen that goes atop tanks. And thanks again for the advice.

[jenaero]

Well if he's 4 inches already you should probably get him on veggies sooner rather than later. Are you feeding him every day? If so, lessen the pellets to every other day and offer lettuce/aquatic plants on the days in between. For his size, the water temp should be 70-75.

I've seen a LOT of turts chewed by dogs/cats and the like.

I've heard that the screen blocks some of the uvb (assuming you have a uvb bulb) so I don't use one. It's good to have something between the light and the tank just to make sure there's no chance of the lamp falling in tho. I used to use an oven rack (thanks again marisa )

[CountryGirl68]

For the screen, the space between each "square" should be at least 1/2 an inch. If you don't want to get rid of the screen, maybe you could enlarge the holes using a wire cutter. You could do this in the area where you have the light shining.

Just a suggestion.

[kikicool]

That's a great suggestion. I think I will do just that. Thank you so much!