All Turtles Message Board

Bandgeek2709 · Level 3 Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 146 Location: Georgia

I have a RES that I got from my sisters' teacher; She was a class pet, so she didn't get the best of care. She's about inches long. She has a really hard time eating the turtle pellets no matter how small I can break them up. Mostly all she's been eating is fish flakes, but she can't live long on those. Also, her shell is getting REALLY soft. I'm afraid she's dying... Sad

It's almost like she can't open her mouth wide enough. Sorry I can't get pictures. Any ideas? My family is going up to D.C. this weekend and the neighbor-girl is coming over to care of the rest of the pets. Do you think I should take Tina? Sorry this is soooo long, but I'm really worried. Thanks for any help...
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Kiwi and Luckey, the angels
Sloane and Tina, the devils

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:20 pm Post subject:

I am sorry I missed this post, you could try pre-soaking the pellets so that the turtle doesn't have to put too much effort into chewing the pellet, but I would recommend only soaking as much as you are going to use, if you leave the soaked pellets in the fridge for too long, they will grow fur, if you know what I mean, after all, it is cold in there. Laughing

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mariza · Level 4 Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 1339

This sounds like metabolic bone disease (soft shell disease), which is painful for the turtle and fatal if living conditions and diet are not corrected. Read http://www.turtlepuddle.org/health/mbd.html for what you can do. If at all possible, take your turtle to a reptile vet.

dixieee · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:05 pm Post subject:

i wonder how i missed that too..how is the turtle doing now?
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Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

Bandgeek2709 · Level 3 Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 146 Location: Georgia

This is the first time I've been on a computer in like a week, because I've been in D.C. and now I'm in Ohio. The girl who's feeding my babies says they all have been eating. But I haven't seen them. We're leaving tomorrow so I'll see her then. I'll let you guys know how she's doing. Confused

She's not in pain, because she's swimming around fine. Thanks though mariza. She's got all the proper requirements, it's that it seems like she can't open up her mouth wide enough...
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Kiwi and Luckey, the angels
Sloane and Tina, the devils

Bandgeek2709 · Level 3 Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 146 Location: Georgia

Ok; I'm back. I cleaned the tank I think the day before I left, and when I got back it was disgusting! So that's what I'm doing today... Everybody is fine, but Tina's shell is pretty soft. There's no way my mom would take her to the vet, so that's out of the question. Poor Tina.
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Kiwi and Luckey, the angels
Sloane and Tina, the devils

kevin89 · Level 2 Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 66

i've heard if turtle are at hatching sizes there shells tend to be soft. so you need to give him more UVB source and more calicum for it to harden on it own as he grow. Very Happy