All Turtles Message Board

i_rock_and_u_know_it94 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

Ok, so i found a turtle outside of my house.
it is small, about 2inches from head to tail and about 1 1/2 inches across. he/she has claws, back feet are webbed, but is NOT a snappaing turtle! it is goldish and black. Please help!!!

2turtles · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject:

Where are you located.

Is there any way to get pictures...

does it look anything like any of these

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1.0.0 Trachemys scripta scripta----1.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta
0.0.2 Emydura subglobosa subglobosa----0.0.1 Testudo hermanni boettgeri

i_rock_and_u_know_it94 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

it looks kind of like the 2nd and 3rd pics but not as much yellow. I am located in west virginia. i can try 2 get pics but i wont be able 2 get them til tomorrow

2turtles · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:14 pm Post subject:

any red or orange markings along the side?
yellow spots on the head?

_________________
1.0.0 Trachemys scripta scripta----1.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta
0.0.2 Emydura subglobosa subglobosa----0.0.1 Testudo hermanni boettgeri

i_rock_and_u_know_it94 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

thats it!!! except not as much of a hump on it's back. Very Happy

2turtles · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject:

It is possible that it is a Painted Turtle.. If the plastron (belly) is one solid cream/yellow color, it would be an Eastern Painted.. If the plastron has a reddish design could be one of the other subspecies of painteds..

The yellow spots behind the eyes and the shell will give it away..

if the scutes (shell pieces ) are arranged in horizontal rows (from left to right) it is definately a painted. if the scutes are staggered and offset it is a cooter or slider...

pictures would confirm. Are you intending on keeping him/her?
_________________
1.0.0 Trachemys scripta scripta----1.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta
0.0.2 Emydura subglobosa subglobosa----0.0.1 Testudo hermanni boettgeri

i_rock_and_u_know_it94 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

yes, we do plan on keeping him/her, but aren't sure what kind of environment they need.

2turtles · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject:

Congrats on deciding to keep him. You may face some harsh comments from people who disagree with you - I'll just try and provide the necessary information you will need.

First of all, your Eastern Painted (we'll assume our ID is correct for now) is an Aquatic turtle, which means she will spend most of her time in the water, and is an excellent swimmer.

She (assuming the worst in terms of overall size, females are larger than males) will grow to about 6-9" in length (of just her shell) and will require as an adult a 75 gallon or greater aquarium.

For now, she will be very happy in a 10 or 20 gallon tank. She will need a water temperature in the mid-70's, so you may need to get a waterheater for the tank.

She will require a 'basking spot'.. someplace she can climb out of the water and get completly dry.. The basking spot should have a 'basking light' above it to keep the temp about 90* at that location.

She will need a GOOD waterfilter. The turt will eat, sleep, drink, pee, poop and play in this water. A good filter will keep the ammonia and nitrites down and you will have to change 50% of the water at least every other week to keep the water quality up.

She will eat veggies, small fish, snails, ghost shrimp, and pellets. I would recommend getting a large canister of Reptomin pellets. You can also feed her bloodworms, superworms, waxworms etc. You should give her a small portion of food once a day for the first 4-6 months, then scale back to every other day or so. Do not overfeed. She will overeat. She will eat everyhing you give her, and this will lead to severe health problems

Read some of the info on the links above, and browse the forums for pictures of setups so you know what you are working towards..
_________________
1.0.0 Trachemys scripta scripta----1.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta
0.0.2 Emydura subglobosa subglobosa----0.0.1 Testudo hermanni boettgeri

2turtles · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:31 pm Post subject:

If however we have misidentified her at this point, and she is a tortoise and not a turtle, placing her in a tank of water will likely kill her.

are there lakes or streams around? She is probably a new hatchling and there could be her brothers/sisters in the neighborhood.
_________________
1.0.0 Trachemys scripta scripta----1.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta
0.0.2 Emydura subglobosa subglobosa----0.0.1 Testudo hermanni boettgeri

i_rock_and_u_know_it94 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

i_rock_and_u_know_it94 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

i_rock_and_u_know_it94 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

sorry if the pics r blurry.

2turtles · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject:

Excellent

That is not a painted turtle

I'm not sure yet what it is.... give me a minute to ponder...
_________________
1.0.0 Trachemys scripta scripta----1.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta
0.0.2 Emydura subglobosa subglobosa----0.0.1 Testudo hermanni boettgeri

i_rock_and_u_know_it94 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

thank u so much 4 your help guys!!! now, do these pics give u any idea about the gender of the tortoise? sorry if i misspelled that.

2turtles · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:52 pm Post subject:

I don't know much about tortises, but you cannot sex them until they are much older.

I just don't know about this one.

It looks like an aquatic because of the shape of the shell and the legs... but then when you discount those features it could be a new hatchling tort..

I can't make up my mind - we need someone else to jump in on this one..

here's a pic of an Eastern Box hatchling... kinda similar

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1.0.0 Trachemys scripta scripta----1.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta
0.0.2 Emydura subglobosa subglobosa----0.0.1 Testudo hermanni boettgeri

i_rock_and_u_know_it94 · Level 1 Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

Well i have to be going now but you have been a very big help! thank u so much! i will c u around. Very Happy