General Care Discussion :: oh my

[pumpkinsherbet]

about a month or so i posted about a friend of mine who had gotten her turtles and wasn't taking care of them. i've been a bad turtle aunt, not checking on them

i went to her house lastnight and she had moved the tank from a dark corner in the kitchen to a brighter, but still not light enough, area in the office. the water was brown, pellets everywhere, still no uva or uvb light. the water heater is messed up so water temp was about 67 degrees. i cleaned out the water a bit, the sink was black from all the ick i syphoned out. i'm ready to start HOLLARING and she tells me that she's thinking about giving them to her brother. he had a turtle for years, so i said yes, yes you do that. i also told her to take them to the vet and do a full water change like yesterday. she said she'll get on it later.

*headdesk*

i just don't get it poor turts, but at least she's decided to give them up in good faith. i hope she holds to that.

[SpotsMama]

Wow, I hope so too. Obviously she's not interested.

[pumpkinsherbet]

don't get me wrong, i love the woman but she's just lazy. nothing wrong with that, i have my lazy moments too, but i take care of my stuff. it does feel like a sharp slap in the face that i would offer her help and give her supplies she just gives excuses and ignores the help. need to vent.

[kikicool]

Very annoying. I had a similar thing happen lately. I had gone back to school to become a vet. But I had to do my undergrad over, then go to vet school, then i'd have had to specialize for anohter 2 years, then an internship.... long story short, I ran out of money and time. Which was okay because I got an internship at a zoo, and didn't like it.

ANYHOO. One of my classmates had two turtles, I remember her talking about them all the time. She was a great student, just got into 4 vet schools SO FAR, and had lots of animal experience. I love the girl. Well, she came over recently and saw my turts. She was raving and basically mocking me for being obsessive and overboard. I said something about cleaning with the vaccuum thing each day and she said "yeah if you're totally anal." And then made reference to being too lazy. She has no UVB light, I found out. She only cleans the tank when she changes the water, which was MAYBE monthly. She only feeds pellets.... AND SHE HAS NO FILTER? By the way, one of her turts died when left in the care of her boyfriend, so now she has one. But it really is sort of.... opinion-changing when someone you think is just like you can DO something so callous and uncaring.

I feel your pain. Vent away!

[marisa]

You said her brother had a turtle for years. I hope he's willing to take care of turtles again.

[DavidY]

Argh Kiki, that would be really frustrating if that happened to me. It's ironic that you're obviously the one with a real love for animals and yet the nonchalant person is the one who becomes a vet.

[grey goose]

Most people don't realize what goes into taking care of reptiles....it's really not like caring for a dog or cat. Aquatic turts are kept in an isolated environment that needs constant attention in order for them to thrive....lazy people need not apply.

[pumpkinsherbet]

it is to my understanding that her brother has been bugging her about it, giving the situation the same treatment as i have. he is more aggressive, while i tend to be too polite for my own good. --------- it's crazy that someone who excells at the study of animal care is so lax about applying that knowledge. that's just proof that acedemic skills aren't everything.

[grey goose]

Einstein once said:
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limitations."

[eazyegee]

Your friend sounds like my mom. My mom only feels that my RES needs food and water (no filter, heater, basking area). Also she's the one where I got my turtle from. One of her friends gave it to her and she didn't take care of it. For about 2 weeks I had two baby turtles living in those little plastic mini tanks with the handles on it. Everyday I would warm the water up for them and put them by the window for sunlight. This lasted until I got paid and got the money for a tank, filter, heater etc..

[pumpkinsherbet]

why do people overlook the fact that these are COLD BLOODED animals that need temp regulation?!?! and why do they not find it necessary to keep clean water? would you like to be confined to a space that's nasty and has ick everywhere?!? why do it to your animal?

[Tertule]

Goose is right, there is much attention required to keep a reptile. The thing I love about turtles, they do not smell (when properly kept). Even if someone has a well kept dog or cat, you can still smell dog or cat.

So far we have sunk about 2 grand in our set up, and it is still growing. But we absolutely love it!

[kornygerm]

why do people overlook the fact that these are COLD BLOODED animals that need temp regulation?!?! and why do they not find it necessary to keep clean water? would you like to be confined to a space that's nasty and has ick everywhere?!? why do it to your animal?

I guess either they are kind of close minded with these reptiles or the fact they never had one..

my mom is kind of like eazy's..I try hard to tell her my turtle needs this and that, but she only see it as an expense, and not quite for the welfare of he turtle.Which sucks cause as a student i cannot do it all by my own.
Recently my dad at least was ok to get the little tank i have right now, but its better than the round container i had them for more than a year!.
still i need a filter, the light and a water heater, i got one recently but it blows.

[eazyegee]

My dad is my only ally in raising my turtle.

[kikicool]

This is breaking my heart! eazy and korny, my standard advice? (might not work but...) next time your mom is in the room with the turtle be like "hey, did you see what he just did?" you know, he bobbed up, or he hit the glass with his claw or something... "he never does that! Huh!" do this a few more times, and then say something like "he must really like you. That's no fair."

Being someone's favorite usually makes that someone a lot more likeable... may not work, but worth a shot!!