All Turtles Message Board

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

Hi everyone.. I am hoping you guy's can give me some good advice. During the Summer my son found a turtle in the canal and we brought it home. ( I think maybe some kind of map turtle) Well, My Husband went out and bought a red eared slider to keep it company. Now.. The map turtle (Flip) is super small still and the red eared slider (Angel) is huge! It is like Angel doesn't want Flip to eat and will eat all the food. Flip sleeps most of the day at the bottom of the tank, coming up for a few hours to bask in the sun. Angel is aggressive toward Flip.. Chasing him around the tank.. Snipping at him, sitting on him. But.. Then Flip turns around and they do this thing while they are facing each-other like they are waving at one another. I don't know what to do except put Flip back into the wild when it turns Spring. (If Angel lets him survive that long) Another thing is that the lady at the pet store told me to put feeder fish in the tank for them to eat. YEAH RIGHT! They were super scared of them. 2 fish died naturally.. But the third has taken residence in the tank and now has a name. Dinner is it's name. Why won't they eat fish? They won't eat anything but turtle pellets. One more thing.. Rocks at the bottom of the tank. I had pretty blue rocks at the bottom but then noticed that Angel was trying to eat them. I took them out and now they have a bare tank. Any suggestions? One more thing then I promise I will be done. Shelter for Flip to hide from Angel.. What should I get?? I will post pictures ASAP! Thanks for listening.. Can't wait to hear from everyone. Rolling Eyes

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 200

Hi Mimom,

A misconception many of us have is that a turtle needs company... while some people may argue that they do, most on this board would agree that turtles don't need companionship from their own kind. They are, after all, a competitive survival species.

One solution would be to feed the turtles in a separate feeding tub. Anything will do. Fill it enough full that the turtles can get their heads out without swimming. This way, you can regulate how much each turtle eats (as well as making their home tank less messy). If the slider is eating all the food, this may be the only way. Even take only the map out and feed it separately.

Turtles will definitely eat feeder fish, but they should not be a staple diet. If they are currently scared of the fish, they won't be for long. Wink

Then they'll chase and eat. Fish are fun to put in the tank, but should not be the main diet. And don't worry about a fish taking up residence, the turtles might get bored... eventually it'll become what you named it, dinner!

As far as the bottom being bare, it's really not a huge concern... the turtles should have some plants and things to climb and rest on/in like fake stumps or whatever. If you want to put rocks in, use big river rocks that there's no way the turtles could eat.

If there is aggression, you probably need to separate them. Shelter to hide will only do so much, in the end Flip can't get AWAY from Angel. This is the biggest problem one hears about turtles living together, and it doesn't necessarily stop nor is it "fixable." They are probably doing the mating dance with the "waving" at each other... perhaps one is male and one is female. That said, that doesn't mean they're compatible.

Love to see some pictures, good luck.

skslover · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:43 am Post subject:

Hey dont worry I am here to help.
The turtle you THINK is a map turtle is not my map turtle was months younger than my res when I got them and He was always and is still larger and they get along If you post pictures I can tell you what kind.also I would keep a Lot of fish or a few that breed fast in your tank because the turtles might not eat until they seeit as food and the more there are of fish the hungrier they get. 2nd of all Your turtles need small rox in ther tank because they eat them for digestion. Also I can tell you If they are boy or girl it is more likely they are agressive because they r the same sex
_________________
I miss my turtles spikeI and Buffy.I am glad to have Killer SpikeII and Sarih and Tiger.Luv the barn cats Pirrate Bindi Tigger Comet Poppy Onyx Snowball and Boo. Luv the dogs Baker Nike AlleyMay Bruno Boox2, and Shyshy. Luv the horses but mainly Shadow.

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

Thanks for all the advice so far guys! I am really feelling bad for the little turtle in my tank (Flip) I am going to try all the above and see if it works. However, I have put Flip in a seperate container to see if he will eat and he still doesn't.

So, I want to have rocks at the bottom of the tank?? I read somewhere else that it could cause health problems if they ate them.

I will post pictures today to see if anyone can "Name that turtle" ...

Talk to you soon

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 200

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

it true and false, ye, in the wild the eat small, rocks, but when you dont have any very tiny rocks, they may eat bigger ones, which then causes a health hazard, which is why most sites tell, smaller than a BB or bigger than their head. but in the wild many sizes are available, and they eat smaller ones to help digest.

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

Everyone one here has been a HUGE help! Thank you so much to everyone that has taken the time to help out. I will try everything and let you know how it goes..

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

Doe's anyone know how to post pictures?? I took a few and want to show you guys!

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

Click here for turtle pictures

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

ok there is a thread somewhere on here, but basically you have to get a photo host thing, like photobucket.com

and after that i get confused, so go to this thread..it tells you.

http://www.allturtles.com/msgboard/topic6299.html?highlight=post%20picture

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 200

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 200

Flip is ridiculously cute.

I could see how, for two, they could use a lot more room... they have lots of depth but not lots of "space." It's a nice tank though.

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

So I need a wider tank.. Not so tall?? I agree! Thanks so much. I am looking at one on ebay right now.

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

well i dont know where you could get gravels that smal either, it just what ive read, and also, Smaller than BB was for four inches, so i guess if its 10 inches it could be bigger. they can do without gravel intheir intestines though...it probably has to be a miraculous size, so i wouldnt guess with it, i just have big rocks, lol.

flip is a map, for sure, probably common map (northern) maybe something else.

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

So, Flippy is a map turtle! I thought so but wasn't exactly sure. Man.. I really love this website and forum. Thanks for all the help everyone!

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

http://www.essenproductions.com/nichole/turtles/Library.html

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

lol i have a mac too, i love making sites, lol

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

Yes, I have to agree.. Mac's are pretty awesome.

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 200

Thirded!

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

I added river rock to the bottom and several plants. Flip seems so much happier! Still not eating but actually swimming around now. Anyone ever have their turtle's try to eat the fake plants? Should I get real and which kind??

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 200

A list of safe plants to feed your turtle:
http://forum.petturtle.com/viewtopic.php?t=1676

A list of plants toxic to your turtle:
http://forum.petturtle.com/viewtopic.php?t=1675

I mostly just float romaine in the water. Tucker doesn't always go for it, but he's also being weaned onto an "every other day" protein schedule (he's getting fat and he's almost two years!). So he figures it out eventually.

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

Thank you! I will give it a try.

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

ya, i wouldnt get real plants, mine was uprooted within an hour, lol. so now its just floating while i wait for it to die.

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

I gave them romaine lettuce and Angel loved it. I have noticed though that the water is becoming cloudy.. What is that from? I just emptied it out 2 days ago.

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

Sadly to say.. Dinner passed away this morning.. Poor Fish.

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

did you feedhim to the turtles? they can eat freashly dead fish

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

No... I couldn't get them to eat them alive. I didn't think to give it to them.. I don't want to force feed them.

mimom48183 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 18

Well, Today was a very sad day for me. I had to give Angel back to the pet store. They said they would find her a good home but it is still sad to give up your pet. Sad