All Turtles Message Board

j99901 · Level 1 Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 10 Location: idaho

hi, all. this is lengthy; sorry: i really need your help and advice, and want to give as much info as possible--i'm in tears Sad

:

i got a RES last week (eight to 12 months old, i was told; shell perhaps five inches long). he's been living in my pond (about six feet long/three-four feet wide/two-three feet at the deepest point). prior to turtle's arrival, it held 350--450 gallons.

his "roomates" are large comets. there were already water hyacinth there to help with algae, and a small waterfall/stream (perhaps two feet higher than the pond).

the first day, he was coming up and taking food from me, and not a bit shy (his lack of fear was why i chose him at the pet-shop).

then he got a wee skittish...after not seeing him for a whole day last week, i thought he'd somehow gotten out, even though i'd made certain that the pond was modifed for turtle. for two nights in a row, i prowled my lot and that of my neighbor (even up and down the street) to see if he was about. i had, the first night, waded into the pond, and felt something--not a fish--scoot past--and was pretty sure he was there. i looked around just the same.

nope--next day, there he was, bobbing in the water. even though i'd ensured that the pond had ledges all around, i re-checked: pretty tough to climb out, even for a RES. as an extra precaution, when i did a small-volume water-change, i did not replace what i'd removed (just a few gallons made a difference in the water-level). i'd used tap-water to replace pond-water, letting it sit about 24 hours to get rid of whatver ick is comes out of the faucets here.

yesterday i added a basking-log (a left-over piece of cedar fencing from two years ago), making sure it was wedged in place--one part high enough for him to get out and take the air; the lower part safe-guarded against any temptation to rock-climbing.

i saw him yesterday, and i think he used the log--i heard a great <SPLASH> at one point as i approached the pond. later he had a bit of reptomin, and it looked like he'd nibbled at the cuttlebone i put in the water (my finch has ignored it forever).

i didn't see him today at all. at first i thought it was a replay of last week--that he was just holing up (for whatever reason) or bad timing. as with last week, i'd see the occasional bubble from his normal hidey-hole and along the route he normally swims toward the 'fall. so i just kept checking. no turtle.

then i read something on the board about whether another poster's turtle had gotten stuck between rocks.

soo...just now i went out and for at least an hour i dredged the pond with the net i use to skim (net did not fare well). i even lay on my belly to feel around in there (bleah). i removed each rock i could find. one of the fish was beneath a rock on the bottom. fish was not in what i'd call pristine condition. if turtle had been snacking on it, i guess it was a right pay-back for all the bullying he's endured from those fish (one was stealing reptomin right out of his mouth).

still no turtle.

it's getting dark; i'll go out w/ the great lamp i used last week and see if i can spot him in the water (if it's cleared, that is).

tomorrow i plan to drain as much of the pond as i can; rather, bucket out the water, as i haven't a pump, and don't much fancy siphoning (sucking pond-water...ew). the fish and hyacinth will go into pails of pond-water (since that's their "home turf").

IF i find turtle (i'm heart-broken here), i won't have the time to let the replacement water sit for 24 hours. when i'd had to add water before, i just let the garden-hose drizzle into the pond--fish did fine with it over the past year or so. so...what to do?

1. if i refill as i've always done, what might i use to clean/purify the water before putting turtle back in? or...
2. should i get a large plastic container for temporary turtle "digs" until the water has been in the pond a few days?

it's quite warm here right now (90s--100s), so i'm not too concerned about keeping the water warm if he's contained: he can stay in a closed-off room that gets good sun-light.

again: i'm sorry for the long post. this is my first turtle; i've always done well with the beasties, and i didn't expect to get so attached to the little guy so quickly. i see such good advice here, and hope someone can give me a little guidance.

thank you Smile

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sometimes "good enough" is good enough.

EarthVsJazz · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:30 pm Post subject:

What about chemicals for faster water cleaning. If they make it for fish tanks they have to make it for ponds. I think that would help you with finding something to put the turtle in for 2 days. www.thatpetplace.com. Check out there free catologs. They have a whole line of pond products.

- Ed

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 3:03 pm Post subject:

About the only thing that you would really need for the tap water would be a dechlorinator, I doubt there is anything else in the water or else the city would not allow people to use it. Follow the directions on the bottle, the one I use says to use a capful for 20 gallons, so I use a capful and a half, since I have a 29 gallon tank. They carry several kinds of dechlorinators at the petstore.

This is the one I use:

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j99901 · Level 1 Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 10 Location: idaho

thanks, all. yes, i found some--at wal-mart. i was there at about 6:00 and got a huge tub for turle, and another for fishies. i found my old pump & sosme tubing, and pumped out the water.

no turtle Sad

i went through the wood-pile, under the grape-vines, through weeds...you name it.

i cannot imagine how he got out--he'd have had to hang upside down! so my neighbor knows about turtle, and i've put out two planter-dishes filled with water (one in sun; one in shade). no one else has a pond hereabouts, and the closest river is two or so miles. it is my hope that he'll come back on his own.
_________________
sometimes "good enough" is good enough.

TallysMom · Level 2 Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 60

Did he come back??

j99901 · Level 1 Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 10 Location: idaho

TallysMom · Level 2 Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 60

Good luck!

dixieee · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 5:29 am Post subject:

wow it's amazing how to got that attached to him!! i mean ok i love my turtles but maybe i didn't have the chance to show them how i love them that much Surprised

anyways, i hope he'll be back soon. could it be that he's digging in the ground and hiding??
_________________
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