CollinsShan
New Member
Good afternoon,
I received a box turtle hatchling from a someone I work with in October. They said they rescued it from some dogs that killed the other hatchlings. They were keeping it in a large bowl of water and feeding it dog kibble they just dropped in the water. They didn't seem very interested in learning how to actually take care of it so I took him home with me. I've never had a hatchling turtle before! I didn't even know what kind of turtle it was! My sister's friend raises box turtles so I sent him a picture and he said it is a gulf coast box turtle. I live in Louisiana. The co worker I got the turtle from lives near a large retention pond that was made when they built the subdivision 20+ years ago. So, I searched the internet for information to get his new home set up. We been through many ups and downs but I got him set up, got him to start eating and he got comfortable and started having a normal routine. I try not to mess with him too much so I don't stress him out but I took him out to weigh him last week and noticed his shell looked different. This is where I need someone help. I have searched everywhere but can't find anyone who has experienced this. It may sound silly but to me is shell look fatter and between the pleural and marginal scores looks like they are separating. Is this how their shell grows? Rot? Mbd? Please help. His enclosure is inside with temp between 75 and 80 with 85 basking spot. Uva/uvb light on basking spot. He eats romaine, butter lettuce, carrots, apples, berries, zucchini, cucumber, turtle chow, red wiggle worms, ham pieces, baked chicken pieces etc... I put multivitamins and calcium/Vit D powder on food 1 per week. He comes out every morning to eat after I turn on the uv light and spray the habitat. He is 13 grams! 2 months ago he was 7 grams! Is he too big? Feeding too much? Today I took his habitat apart, cleaned everything, dumped a bottle of conditioned water in the substrate and mixed it up. Added moist forest floor and sphagnum moss in his hide. I did this because I saw someone on the forum say it's the best to keep them hydrated and increase humidity. Also i could not keep the humidity up in the cage just by spraying it 3 to 4 times per day. Please look at the pic attached. Sorry about this long post! Let me know if more info is needed. Thanks so much! Rashan
I received a box turtle hatchling from a someone I work with in October. They said they rescued it from some dogs that killed the other hatchlings. They were keeping it in a large bowl of water and feeding it dog kibble they just dropped in the water. They didn't seem very interested in learning how to actually take care of it so I took him home with me. I've never had a hatchling turtle before! I didn't even know what kind of turtle it was! My sister's friend raises box turtles so I sent him a picture and he said it is a gulf coast box turtle. I live in Louisiana. The co worker I got the turtle from lives near a large retention pond that was made when they built the subdivision 20+ years ago. So, I searched the internet for information to get his new home set up. We been through many ups and downs but I got him set up, got him to start eating and he got comfortable and started having a normal routine. I try not to mess with him too much so I don't stress him out but I took him out to weigh him last week and noticed his shell looked different. This is where I need someone help. I have searched everywhere but can't find anyone who has experienced this. It may sound silly but to me is shell look fatter and between the pleural and marginal scores looks like they are separating. Is this how their shell grows? Rot? Mbd? Please help. His enclosure is inside with temp between 75 and 80 with 85 basking spot. Uva/uvb light on basking spot. He eats romaine, butter lettuce, carrots, apples, berries, zucchini, cucumber, turtle chow, red wiggle worms, ham pieces, baked chicken pieces etc... I put multivitamins and calcium/Vit D powder on food 1 per week. He comes out every morning to eat after I turn on the uv light and spray the habitat. He is 13 grams! 2 months ago he was 7 grams! Is he too big? Feeding too much? Today I took his habitat apart, cleaned everything, dumped a bottle of conditioned water in the substrate and mixed it up. Added moist forest floor and sphagnum moss in his hide. I did this because I saw someone on the forum say it's the best to keep them hydrated and increase humidity. Also i could not keep the humidity up in the cage just by spraying it 3 to 4 times per day. Please look at the pic attached. Sorry about this long post! Let me know if more info is needed. Thanks so much! Rashan