All Turtles Message Board

AERYSTOTYL & AIRYZ · Guest Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 4 Location: ORLANDO, FL.

Hi all. I am a newbie here. I have 2 "Red Eared Sliders".
The largest one has been shedding BIG TIME and honestly, I fint it to be gross. Is this normal, (the shedding) or is there something I can do to slow it down? I also am finding large "Scales" floating in the tank. EW!
And, I do NOT feed them in the tank, I pull em both out to feed, and place em in SEPERATE tanks. After the big one, "Aerystotyl" eats, I find pieces of something?? They are the same color as his/her shell, yet could be the rocks I have in there? He/she has NO indication of pieces of shell coming off, broken or missing upon thorough inspection. His/her shell IS intact. Very confusing because the pieces are NOT in there when I 1st pull him/her out & place him/her in the tank 4 feeding.
Here is how I have the tank set up......
10 Gallon.
Heater.
UVA/UVB lamp in cover/ lid.
Large rock thingie for sunning.
Gravel is actually larger rocks.
Whisper Filter.
3 Algae eaters.
Think that pretty much covers it.
ANY help would greatly be appreciated.
THANK-YOU!
"S"

therea · Level 3 Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 131 Location: England

I believe the shedding thing is just him growing, like other reptiles do, they shed their skin. I don't know bout the shell, but i think that has something to do with it growing too.
Under no circumstances should you try and 'help' the skin shedding by peeling it off, as you may end up peeling off his new skin, and that could be very painful for the poor guy!
Hope I have helped somehow.
Oh, and the set up sounds fine, if anything, I'd get a larger tank asap.
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AERYSTOTYL & AIRYZ · Guest Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 4 Location: ORLANDO, FL.

No! I would NEVER "Peel" off his shedding skin.
I will be getting a larger tank, but, for now, they seem to be doing fine. Very Happy

Just the "Loose Skin" floating around......gags me. Good thing I am not pregnant. LOL
I was just wondering like, what is the "Norm"? Seems he is shedding ALL the time. Almost everyday? Then, when it all comes off.....bout a week or so later, he starts it again. UGH.
He is so neat....he follows me round my room. If I am on 1 side of my room, he is there at that side of the tank, then I watch him as I move to the other end of my room & there he goes....right there to the opposite side of the tank....watching me all the while. Really kewl if you ask me.
I guess as much as we enjoy watching THEM in their tank, they enjoy watching US? Idea

OK well THANK-YOU!
"S"

therea · Level 3 Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 131 Location: England

I personally yhink they are the coolest things on the planet! My husband is still amazed at how much attention I give to them. I quite often find myself watching them instead of watching tv!

Um, how much, or how often do you feed them? It may be that you're over feeding them, and they're getting fat.
Also what temp is your heater set at? It may be too cold for them. I believe your heater should be set at around 81/82 degrees (25degrees c to me)
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turtle_grl77 · Level 4 Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 985 Location: Florida

Actually it should be 78-80. It maybe the water is to warm. I noticed with mine when the water is to warm the shed like mad.

AERYSTOTYL & AIRYZ · Guest Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 4 Location: ORLANDO, FL.

[color=red]Hmmmmmm? I am not sure what the temp is? While I do have a therm. the kind you place/ tape on the outside of the tank, I cant SEE it to read it? I know that the heater is now set on the "Highest" because the water was just too cold still.
[color=blue]But get this......NOW, after I feed Aerystotyl (bigger one), soon as I place him back in their tank, he IMMEDIATELY goes to the gravel/ rock thingies & starts to EAT them? Then he places, (always a black one?) in his mouth & swims off, when he drops it, he chases after it, placing it back in his mouth? Could he be EATING these rox?????? Maybe this is why I am finding pieces of rock/ gravel in his lil feeding tank? (please see original post)
HELP PLEASE!
I may lower the heater, perhaps this is why he is shedding so much.
PS: I just looked again at therm & it "Looks Like" it reads 78-80? The 78 is slightly green in color & the 80 above it is a slight red color? Just really hard to read it.[/color][/color]

turtle_grl77 · Level 4 Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 985 Location: Florida

Take those little rocks out. They could hurt your turtle. Go for something the size of river rocks. Sounds about where it needs to be.

AERYSTOTYL & AIRYZ · Guest Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 4 Location: ORLANDO, FL.

YUP! He WAS eating the rox! But, WHY? I removed them, but WHY does he eat them? *__*
TY!