DonnaM

Its taken 2 years for Bronti (ELN) to finally shed his wrinkled up, built up scutes. Whereas another I got with built up scutes shed them within 3 mths of better conditions. I guess multiple factors particularly with diet, lighting and environment. They all appear to be the same breed, except the typical "small tank" shell deformity of that last one. RES do the same. Oh, forgot to say... Fabulous photos! :bounce:

:happy1: Wonderful news! So is he in a cage yet or still loose? I hope the people dont try again! :an!gry

:an!gry :tears:

Sorry to hear you are so sick Stella. :tears: Definately go back to GP if you feel you need to. Also, wonder if theres anything at home contributing to your health problems? I had repeated pneumonia/ asthma issues 2 winters ago for almost 3 mths... then discovered a leaking pipe inside a wall that had spread lovely toxic mould all through the wall (behind a big wall unit so not seen). Water had seeped right under the carpet across the lounge and into the kitchen so black mould was all through the floor boards as well. Once it was all dry there was no more problems and nothing since. Mould in the house can cause respiratory issues. (Not that I'm saying you have a mouldy house!) :facepalm: But just a thought in case there may be some issue with mould or something else thats contributing to the pneumonia. :dunno:

Pet bus is good and relatively inexpensive. I sent 7 adult turtles to mid Nth Island for $45. Or just carry on the plane. I took 2 RES to Auckland from chch and they had to go thru the x.ray at chch No-one said anything. Only problem was the restless one got out of the box and nearly got left behind in the luggage storage above our heads. Wondered what all that banging around was during the trip :lol: :roll:

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/819 ... lee-floods on news.ninemsn.com.au.. Hopefully this link works.... Otherwise, its a picture of a green frog on the back of a brown snake in OZ in the floods.

:happy1: Brilliant! Motherhood is obviously very stressful

:lol: :lol:

Hi Joanne, maybe it would be easier to put the turtles in the brichardi tank and fish the turtles out after they've had a good feed :lol: The mosquito lavae are a great idea for the hatchlings

Pebbles are a cause of death in turtles as they can cause intestinal blockage or prolapse. If the stone is smooth and larger than the turtles whole head, then its OK as it cant be swallowed. If its smaller then its just too much of a risk. Watch the cat food....its high in purine...which can cause gout and a slow painful death in turtles. Also not worth the risk in my opinion. Goldfish is ok in small doses but apparently its a bit of a fatty fish :dunno: I agree ID, would be nice to have access to some once in awhile. Crickets are a bit too pricey. I need to start a slater farm I reckon...one day when I dont have 47 rescue turtles to look after :roll: They like waterboatmen too. Looks hilarious with them all going in a dozen directions trying to catch them.

My fish breeding is very slow.....like almost non existant! Yes I've known ELNs to eat pellets too, tho not so good if thats all they get.

The Australian freshwater turtle forum recommend live food and no pellets for ELNs. Mine eat Hot house turtle food and live food...tho hard to keep up with 9 adult and 2 juvenile ELNs and the live food they need. Minnie has been known to chomp away at kumara peelings But ELNs don't eat plants either. Anyone got any spare feeder fish? :lol:

Repto, that sounds awful! Fortunately I and vet knew about sugar...but didnt work. :tears: I think it had been out a bit too long and he was up under the basking lights when found, so it was very dry. Had bits sort of ripped off a bit as well and hugely swollen. We tried the sugar, cold water etc and eventually it took about 4 people holding him, pulling tail out straight, applying loads of KY and manipulating back in with a cotton bud. Amputation was an option as it had taken many attempts and about 4 hrs before finally able to retract it in. Cloaca had been torn a little as well by snakeneck. The wee fella never once attempted to bite anyone. He was (and still is) a very placid boy who now lives happily with a couple and has had no issues with said appendage :happy2: It happened after he'd been popped in the 6 ft tank with a young snakeneck and a female RES to have a good swim around before going back in their respective 4 ft tanks.... obviously the female was a bit too much temptation, even at such a young age... I wont be doing that again!

Ouch poor turtle reptilenutt! And this is the result of a RES fanning and the seemingly placid snakeneck thinking it was a juicy worm to eat.....he almost needed to have it surgically removed...but fortunately it was pushed back inside. Also I've been told that one breed can set off a fungus infection in the others skin...cant remember which way it went tho and havent had personal experience of it. The snakenecks diet and lighting needs are a bit different to the RES as well, so best to have seperate tanks

I really hope she makes it! Sounds like you're doing all you can and its a bit of wait and see. :dunno: Yes the pics are very interesting!

We had earthquakes....

Wow thats fantastic. :happy2: Are the police able to do any finger printing of the box or anything?

I've had things thrown out of cupboards today...havent had that before...even in the 7.1. So much depends on where you are located in relation to the quake...and today they're just down the road from me :tears: Lots of water sloshing about and onto carpets, but nothing too un-manageable....just un-nerving....

Who'd have thought maggots could be so interesting! :lol: :lol:

Thanks Mark Pretty tiring, but just managing to find tanks or a pond here for them all (Or a plastic container for awhile :roll: ) ....now if some-one wants an adult RES male...I've got about 6 needing a forever home. And they are all maggot free!!!! :lol:

No it was a 'found' one some-one had taken to the vet. I've lost count at about 20 new turtles that have come to me since the earthquake. Some from people no longer able to cope..broken house...broken tank etc etc, but many 'found' in drains, gardens, creeks etc.

I was asked to go to 'after hours vet' to pick up a turtle last week... very thin, dehydrated and covered in old sores. Its eyes were swollen and I was having a good look at all the scabs around its mouth...and maggots started crawling out of its mouth! I dont do maggots well! I handed it straight back and it was put down. The maggots were coming out of the mouth at the corners of the mouth... I think there may have been a sore in base of mouth, but I didnt look too hard ewwww

Thats terrible!! I'm so sorry

Cute! Hope it grows up strong and healthy so we all know what it is

:bounce: Congrats!!!