i have a baby red-ear slider turtle & her shell is kinda flimsy on the side. you can kinda move it with your fingers. is it supposed to be like that when they are little? also i havent seen her eat anything. ive tried 2 different turtle foods and even a piece of lettace. HELP PLEASE!
2007-02-28 11:41:54 · 10 answers · asked by Amanda 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
**EDIT** She is adapting b/c i got her last sunday...another male turtle is in the tank with her so i really cant monitor how much she eats. Plus, i have school. Thanks though
2007-02-28 11:54:41 · update #1
When they are babies, their shells are usually quite soft. Make sure she has somewhere to bask outside of the water (log, rock etc.) In regards to her eating, she might be eating when u arent looking. Make sure you know how many pellets you are giving her, you can even try hand feeding her. Providing she's not sick, she will eat when she needs to, she could just be adapting to her new surroundings, sometimes that takes awhile. I wouldn't worry about it too much right now...just keep watch on her over the next few days...and make sure the water in her tank is cleaned frequently.
*** If you cant monitor her eating, how do you know she isnt then? Maybe you can separate the 2 for a few days to make sure. Also, adaptation can take longer then a week...some animals never adapt. ***
2007-02-28 11:52:41 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your baby turtle has not had enough sunlight and the calcium is also low. Commercial turtle food is not 100% nutrition but Tetra Reptomin is a good food for baby turtles . I would suggest that you set up a tank for the turtle and declorinate the water and feed it some small fish (feeder fish, any kind) for a while. This will provide the calcium and allow the turtle to eat the "natural" food. The sunlight can be indirect, near a window but use caution with an overheating problem that can happen with too much sunlight.
2007-02-28 18:01:10 · answer #2 · answered by hotsnakes2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Baby turtle shells are a little flexible on the edges, or in the middle of the belly (plastron). Flexibility in older turtles, or on the backbone area is a bigger concern.
2. The most common reason turtles don't eat is stress or cold water. Make sure the water is clean, and warmed to 75-80 degrees (F).
3. Baby turtles usually like broken pellets of a good brand (Reptomin is a decent brand that is usually easy to get), or live worms- especially bloodworms.
A great source for solid care info is http://www.austinsturtlepage.com
Another is http://www.redearslider.com
2007-02-28 15:27:28 · answer #3 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have two turtles.They are about 5 years old.Turtles take alot of care.Make sure they have a UV light.I feed my turtles Nutrafin Max Turtle Gammarus Pellets.Break the pellets up for baby turtles.Get a calcium or medicated turtle block.If the turtle doesn't get enough vitamins in it's diet,it will get sick.Swollen/closed eyes are a sign of a vitamin deficiency.Take them to a vet right away.You can also go to the pet store and by a little yellow bottle of vitamin preparation.It is called Turtle Eye Clear Vitamin Preparation.Follow the direction on the back.Hope this helps.One of my turtles was very sickly when he was little.I had to tube feed him for a long time.Not fun.And many trips to a vet.Look up on the internet for vets that deal in reptiles around your area.
2007-02-28 14:59:52 · answer #4 · answered by ANGELA M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG! Do not release that turtle. People releasing their RES pets outside the natural range have been responsible for fouling up the habitat for the native turtles, some of which are threatened or endangered. I am afraid that someone already did that near you if there are babies wandering around loose. RES require at least 10 gallons of water per inch of shell and they grow rapidly. They feed in the water and the babies are carnivorous. Try earthworms, bait fishes, and liver -- no vegetables until they mature.
2016-03-29 04:36:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also have a red ear slider and is much older now and she never has had this problem u should take your turtle to the vet or just let her be because she could have desies and may contaminate you
2007-02-28 12:02:30 · answer #6 · answered by soccergoalie4life 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You might want to take her to a vet or something that sounds weird. I used to have a red-ear turtle and she liked to eat live worms. I had a little pool for her un her tank and I would feed her turtle food and live worms. I always put the food in the water to soften it up, and the worms in the water too.
Hope she is okay. :)
2007-02-28 11:48:35 · answer #7 · answered by Magzilla 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i have 2 of those kinds of turtles and i think if the shell is flimsy it needs more fiber. You know how fiber and calcium is good for our bones and teeth? it's good for turtle's shells too. I would moniter it on the weekends or whenever u r free. hope i could help!
2007-02-28 13:36:34 · answer #8 · answered by JuJu 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
turtle probaly got shell rot and is sick
go to the vet if your willing
for now get a shell calcium tabalet here is a website for it:
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=8602&Nav=1&N=0&Ntt=turtle&cp=4&Nao=36&sku=93556&familyID=6313&
but the feeding part i don't know
2007-02-28 11:50:22 · answer #9 · answered by animalhouser07 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
if you can buy a small little gold fish, live. they love them. she would eat it, they both would. I have 2 , a male and a female.
2007-02-28 12:03:38 · answer #10 · answered by Dulce 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋