General Care Discussion :: Red?

[IshMaster]

The day before yesterday I cleaned Walnut's aquarium, which I have to admit was WAY overdue.

While she was in her much smaller temporary holding box she passed something that looked like a dried up grape tomato. I had fed her a grape tomato, like I do once a month, but this was a while ago.

Just a few minutes ago I noticed the same thing in her regular aquarium. I'm worried now, is red waste okay? It isn't bloody or even blood red, just red.

She does eat alot of carrots and also she mainly eats turtle pellets.

Thanks.

[marisa]

It sounds like she pooped out some tomato skin. How long ago did you feed her the grape tomato? Mine will sometimes poop out bits of food like fruit skin or a bit of carrot that had been fed to them days before.

[IshMaster]

I cannot tell you exactly when but I think it had been within a week before. Would she still be "pooping" though even after she passed, what looked like, all of it?

[marisa]

I think it's possible. They're metabolisms are slow, and perhaps some of it took longer to come out than the rest. You could keep an eye on what comes out for a while to see if it disappears or if it keeps happening (which could indicate something's wrong).

[IshMaster]

I really hope nothing is wrong.

A) Because I love my little Walnut.
B) My mom would never let me take her to a vet. ("She isn't the same as a pet you can cuddle, like a dog or a cat." =\)

[Hoooneylynn]

Oh, Ish, if your mom will not let you take her to the vet, EVEN if she isnt a "cuddly dog and cat", IT IS STILL a responsibility! If she isn't willing to take a sick, suffering animal to the vet, you shouldnt have it then. If there is a chance that your turt could be sick and suffering, PLEASE give it to someone who can give it the proper care it needs. Like many people on this forum say, it is so sad that parents think an RES is a good pet for children... it is a lot of money, a lot of responsibility, and it is an animal that deserves to be taken care of, even if that means taking it to the vet!!!!! Also... does anyone know exactly how long it takes the food to be digested and to pass through the intestines? It also depends on basking/uva/uba, right? My turt poops like at least once sometimes twice a day... It seems to me that because their metabolism is slow, all the food that they eat in that week/week and a half would be blocked up and they would poop less? Or does it just pass without the nutrients being fully absorbed?

[kikicool]

Oh now hold up just a second. There are ways to get your mom to let you take her to the vet. Mwoohhahahahaha.

*impress upon her the fact that the turtle is suffering; and that you love the turtle. and thus you are suffering.

*call a reptile vet and ask about your turt's symptoms. Tell him your situation. Then, tell your mom what he said. My guess is he'll say it's irresponsible not to bring it in. How is that teaching you a good lesson, you can ask?

*if that doesn't work, (LAST RESORT) tell your mom you're having a fundraiser so that you can pay for his vet bill yourself. Do you run or play a sport? Tell friends and neighbors that you are running/playing for Walnut. Ask them to donate $1 for every mile you run on a certain date or every goal you score in a certain game. There's absolutely nothing wrong with doing this--this is what major charitable organizations do to raise money. However, chances are that your mom will get embarrassed because she'll realize that you have to ask others for help just because she won't give it to you.

I never had this problem. My mom was the kind who actually made casts for the baby chicks that were born with bad feet or legs! However, my friend did. She took in a stray cat, and her parents sort of felt "well, it's a stray, we feed it and give it shelter and that's enough." So we did the last one. Except we didn't run a race or anything. We just put up signs all over town Can't remember exactly what it said...something to the effect of

"Hi! Help me be a responsible pet owner! I want to get my kitten neutered and get her shots. My parents don't think it's necessary. Can I help around your house to earn money? Call me!" and then her number. We were actually only 13, so her mom didn't want her going into people's houses and voila! the cat went to the vet!

Evil advice, I know but I like animals more than people. And sometimes when people are being unreasonable, they know it, and don't care--until others know it.

Can you tell I don't have kids?

[Hoooneylynn]

lol kikicool, great ideas.. I'm sure she will be embarrassed, and prolly wont let her put those signs up cause the neighbors will be talkin! lol.. and ish, I think your signature says youve had her for four years? I would think she would understand and be attached to it too... just break out into hysterics and tell her if you don't go, it will die and you wouldnt want a dog or cat anyways.. lol

[cam722]

kikicool... those are terrific ideas. Even if the mother doesn't help out, it does show initiative and doing odd jobs for others isn't a bad thing for teenagers. Earning money to take responsibility of your own pets in my mind is a good idea. LOL... yes I'm a mother

[kikicool]

Also, after some thought, I realized another (perhaps kinder!) solution may be to ask your mom if you can do work for HER around teh house for money. Once she sees how serious you are, she may let you off the hook a little easy. Tell her you'll work for half the money before the vet vist, and half after--you don't want Walnut to wait too long if he is sick.

...but be sure you keep up your half after part of the bargain. You never know when he'll get sick again!

Cam I LOVE that turtle avatar!!

[jenaero]

Sounds to me like he just passed the tomato skin like Marisa said. Don't panic yet. Keep an eye on him, don't feed him any more tomatoes for now and see if it happens again.

[IshMaster]

Thanks for all the advice y'all. Money isn't an issue; it is just the inconvience of taking me anywhere. XD (We live thirty minutes from anywhere.) Hoooneylynn you are right, she does have a small amount of attachment to her, especially since we bought that 55 gallon tank, I'm just not sure about the vet deal. =\

I will keep an eye on her "pooping" habits, but I'm not too worried yet.

[Hoooneylynn]

Are you for sure she is female? They could grow to up to 12 inches, which is a 120 gallon at least.. Mine girl is only 5 inches now, got a 55, and I am already planning for that EXPENSIVE tank! How old are you Ish? Do you have a drivers license or just dont have a car yet, if you don't mind me asking? The vet I had gone to just moved, and its now an hour away from where I live... I could go to vets in chicago, I live like 30 minutes away, but there are no appointments.. imagine only having maybe a couple exotic vets in the city! Its good its not about the money.. See, many people believe that because the pet didnt cost much, its not worth the money for meds or proper care.. (Im not saying this is you).. like getting shots for a cat or dog.. but with the proper care, an RES can live 30+ years.. a cat or dog lives like 15 at best?