Three-Striped Mud Turtles: BOLD & PINSTRIPE

Moozillion

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Bold is significantly larger, but Pinstripe is more scrappy. ;). I watch for signs of bullying, especially considering the difference in size. However, both turtles typically yield to each other and avoid conflict. They can get away from each other, which helps. We try to make sure they are well enough fed to curb potential food aggression. Bold can be a bit of a food thief, but I have also seen Pinstripe climb up the back of Bold's carapace to reach a piece of food floating in the water, over Bold's head.

They BOTH sound like a couple of characters!!! [emoji38]
 

Pastel Tortie

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Anne, I am SO impressed with how well you KNOW both turtles!!!
You’ve clearly done your homework, and then some!!!!! FABULOUS turtle parents!!!![emoji2][emoji2][emoji2][emoji173]️[emoji173]️[emoji173]️
Thank you, Bea! The encouragement means so much! It's definitely a learning curve.

I guess having two turtles means I have to pay twice as much attention and be twice as vigilant to make sure they're getting along together! :D
 

Moozillion

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Thank you, Bea! The encouragement means so much! It's definitely a learning curve.

I guess having two turtles means I have to pay twice as much attention and be twice as vigilant to make sure they're getting along together! :D
...and since you never know what they may be PLOTTING together, you've got to pay even MORE attention!!! :p:D:D:D
 

Pastel Tortie

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...and since you never know what they may be PLOTTING together, you've got to pay even MORE attention!!! :p:D:D:D
I refer to them as trouble-FINDERS. Collectively, I think Bold and Pinstripe are too small to MAKE much trouble, but there's no doubt in my mind that, if it's around, they'll FIND it! :D
 

Pastel Tortie

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I saw the strangest thing in the mud turtle tank yesterday evening... It was so surreal. I didn't get pictures, because I didn't want to interrupt what I thought I saw... But I DID see it...

BOLD was eating GREEN stuff!!!!!

I had put a few small pieces of spring mix in their enclosure, mostly just for decoration and so the muds wouldn't feel left out because the other reptiles got some salad mix. :p Or something like that. I just wish I knew which kind of lettuce or spring mix greens Bold was munching on!

Whatever it was, Bold ate it. All of it. It disappeared. I was still wondering if I had been seeing things, when Bold started in on a strand of Anacharis!

I'm still astounded. The funniest thing is, I think Bold willingly eats more greenery than our juvenile Gulf Coast box turtle!
 

CarolM

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I saw the strangest thing in the mud turtle tank yesterday evening... It was so surreal. I didn't get pictures, because I didn't want to interrupt what I thought I saw... But I DID see it...

BOLD was eating GREEN stuff!!!!!

I had put a few small pieces of spring mix in their enclosure, mostly just for decoration and so the muds wouldn't feel left out because the other reptiles got some salad mix. [emoji14] Or something like that. I just wish I knew which kind of lettuce or spring mix greens Bold was munching on!

Whatever it was, Bold ate it. All of it. It disappeared. I was still wondering if I had been seeing things, when Bold started in on a strand of Anacharis!

I'm still astounded. The funniest thing is, I think Bold willingly eats more greenery than our juvenile Gulf Coast box turtle!
Way to go bold. Well done.
 

Moozillion

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I saw the strangest thing in the mud turtle tank yesterday evening... It was so surreal. I didn't get pictures, because I didn't want to interrupt what I thought I saw... But I DID see it...

BOLD was eating GREEN stuff!!!!!

I had put a few small pieces of spring mix in their enclosure, mostly just for decoration and so the muds wouldn't feel left out because the other reptiles got some salad mix. :p Or something like that. I just wish I knew which kind of lettuce or spring mix greens Bold was munching on!

Whatever it was, Bold ate it. All of it. It disappeared. I was still wondering if I had been seeing things, when Bold started in on a strand of Anacharis!

I'm still astounded. The funniest thing is, I think Bold willingly eats more greenery than our juvenile Gulf Coast box turtle!

WOW!!!! [emoji2]
 

Pastel Tortie

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I was debating whether to feed the mud turtles before work this morning, or just wait until this evening.

I think Bold noticed my hesitation...
WP_20190319_08_04_34_Pro.jpg
...and wanted to make sure I knew just how much they appreciate breakfast, and that it's the most important meal of the day (until dinner)...
WP_20190319_08_04_59_Pro.jpg
Bold offered to work for it...
WP_20190319_08_05_12_Pro.jpg
As long as we pay in shrimp!
WP_20190319_08_05_24_Pro.jpg
Or turtle pellets...but on Pinstripe's behalf, Bold asks for shrimp. ;)
 

Pastel Tortie

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Of course, the only pictures I could get AFTER I gave the turtles shrimp were these...
WP_20190319_08_11_30_Pro.jpg
WP_20190319_08_11_40_Pro.jpg
Now that I think about it, I think Pinstripe was grumbling a couple days ago about Bold's "big fat carapace"... Something about making the moss ball go kablooey... ;)
 

CarolM

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I was debating whether to feed the mud turtles before work this morning, or just wait until this evening.

I think Bold noticed my hesitation...
View attachment 267671
...and wanted to make sure I knew just how much they appreciate breakfast, and that it's the most important meal of the day (until dinner)...
View attachment 267672
Bold offered to work for it...
View attachment 267673
As long as we pay in shrimp!
View attachment 267674
Or turtle pellets...but on Pinstripe's behalf, Bold asks for shrimp. ;)
Awesome pictures. And it is a good thing that Bold is working for his bread and butter. Teaches them nothing is for free. [emoji6]
 

CarolM

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Moozillion

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I was debating whether to feed the mud turtles before work this morning, or just wait until this evening.

I think Bold noticed my hesitation...
View attachment 267671
...and wanted to make sure I knew just how much they appreciate breakfast, and that it's the most important meal of the day (until dinner)...
View attachment 267672
Bold offered to work for it...
View attachment 267673
As long as we pay in shrimp!
View attachment 267674
Or turtle pellets...but on Pinstripe's behalf, Bold asks for shrimp. ;)
OMG!!!! WHAT A GORGEOUS MUG!!!!!:<3::<3::<3::<3:
I especially love that photo with his face above water!!!!:):<3:
 

Moozillion

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Moozillion

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Hey, Anne- I just wanted to mention something about feeding shrimp to your turtles.
A while back, I learned that shrimp contain Thiaminase, which is an enzyme that destroys vitamin B-1 (thiamine). If you feed your turtles exclusively or excessively on shrimp, they could develop a vitamin B deficiency. I don't know if it would kill them but it would certainly make them sick, more feeble and less able to resist illness or infection.
As much as your shelled kiddos LOOOOVE their shrimp, you might think about a little "tough love" and limit the shrimpy treats!
If you google about it, you can find out lots.
I used to feed Jacques raw catfish until I found out that catfish has a lot of thiaminase, so I took her off it cold turkey.

Fish to be MINIMIZED due to containing :eek: THIAMINASE: (in no particular order)
white bass
bowfin
bream
buffalo fish
bullhead catfish
channel catfish
carp
fat head minnow
gar
goldfish
moray eel
gizzard shad
shiner
stone roller
white sucker
lake whitefish
tuna
shrimp

Fish that are SAFE TO FEED and have little to :) NO THIAMINASE:
largemouth bass
rock bass
smallmouth bass
bluegill
chub
cod
crapppie
eel
northern pike
salmon
brown trout
lake trout
rainbow trout
amberjack
croaker
flounder
perch

Good luck with your cuties!!!! :):<3:
 

Pastel Tortie

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Hey, Anne- I just wanted to mention something about feeding shrimp to your turtles.
A while back, I learned that shrimp contain Thiaminase, which is an enzyme that destroys vitamin B-1 (thiamine). If you feed your turtles exclusively or excessively on shrimp, they could develop a vitamin B deficiency. I don't know if it would kill them but it would certainly make them sick, more feeble and less able to resist illness or infection.
As much as your shelled kiddos LOOOOVE their shrimp, you might think about a little "tough love" and limit the shrimpy treats!
If you google about it, you can find out lots.
I used to feed Jacques raw catfish until I found out that catfish has a lot of thiaminase, so I took her off it cold turkey.

Fish to be MINIMIZED due to containing :eek: THIAMINASE: (in no particular order)
white bass
bowfin
bream
buffalo fish
bullhead catfish
channel catfish
carp
fat head minnow
gar
goldfish
moray eel
gizzard shad
shiner
stone roller
white sucker
lake whitefish
tuna
shrimp

Fish that are SAFE TO FEED and have little to :) NO THIAMINASE:
largemouth bass
rock bass
smallmouth bass
bluegill
chub
cod
crapppie
eel
northern pike
salmon
brown trout
lake trout
rainbow trout
amberjack
croaker
flounder
perch

Good luck with your cuties!!!! :):<3:
Thanks, Bea! I appreciate the heads up, and you have given me quite a bit to think about.

I have been wanting to diversify the diets of these young mud turtles. That's easy where Bold is concerned, but Pinstripe can be difficult at mealtimes (not unlike Jacques).
 

Pastel Tortie

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Fortunately, both turtles seem to find small earthworms irresistible. And red wigglers are relatively easy to gutload. I've been planning to adjust the mud turtles' diet to include a good percentage of earthworms. The plan is to get a variety of feeder invertebrate colonies up and running in April.
 

Moozillion

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Fortunately, both turtles seem to find small earthworms irresistible. And red wigglers are relatively easy to gutload. I've been planning to adjust the mud turtles' diet to include a good percentage of earthworms. The plan is to get a variety of feeder invertebrate colonies up and running in April.

Perfect!!!! [emoji2][emoji2][emoji2]
 

Moozillion

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Fortunately, both turtles seem to find small earthworms irresistible. And red wigglers are relatively easy to gutload. I've been planning to adjust the mud turtles' diet to include a good percentage of earthworms. The plan is to get a variety of feeder invertebrate colonies up and running in April.

And I think catching live earthworm prey is great stimulation for them!
 

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