DonnaM

And how could you resist that cute wee face

I second all that! Well except for the first line :lol: When they bite its just like a strong fish bite...nothing like a RES

ahh well thats alright then :lol:

:lol: mmm except it wasnt actually meant as sarcasm... Hope it didnt seem that way

Good idea to look after the animals you've already got really well and then when you have the time...and the money....get some more

Try the bath, or laundry tub, fish bucket, chilli-bin...with a bit of water. Or even dry dock it. Put in a box with sides so it cant climb out and cover turtle in a towel to help calm it...tho this is only OK for a short time. Also need to transport it dry. Never in water, as all that swishing water can cause aspiration pneumonia. I pmed you some more info as well...we are crossing posts :lol: It will likely climb out the 1 ft high tank....unless you put a lid on it, that it cant push off. That tank would be OK as an emergency holding area, just dont let it sit in sun and get overheated and as said, cover with something heavyish

Ohh, so thats why you havent come around for the turtle yet So will I give him to someone else?

Ring the SPCA, local vets and pet shops and let them know ones been found. Sometimes people really do loose them and want them back...and don't just dump them. It could have walked a VERY long way before you found it. Also it may well wander off again, so if you can contain it so it is 'safe' and not going to be mauled by a dog, run over by a car or tortured by some-one until the SPCA can take it (or who-ever), that would be good Hopefully your local SPCA has someone who can foster it...if it was here in CHCH that would be me I've just seen you are in Auckland...that lady , Clarice, takes turtles for the SPCA so ask them for her number. Sorry I don't know her contact details.

Very nice

:lol:

Yay its Christmas! :bounce: Hope you all have a wonderful day

8) yes I suspect it was 'left' a bit long before they seperated them when it did start to happen. It was the lack of provocation on his part that was observed. I checked Squirt over today and theres a good layering of plaque like scabs over the areas and no sign of infection. Hes eating well and quite placid again...thank-fully Now if I could just get a good home for him... :roll:

Sounds good LA.

They can definately make a mess during mating. As far as we know with Squirt though it was unprovoked. He's pretty young and wasn't doing any of the flirting type behaviours towards her. :roll: ( Mind you that doesnt mean something wasn't happening when they weren't observed.) But as owner was home after surgery and not moving much out of the lounge where they were for a few weeks...it looked pretty unprovoked. In the wild they really only come together to mate or to fight for territory...or to bask together as theres safety in numbers. So if they get a bit territorial one can move on to another spot in the pond or another pond altogether. In captivity we force them to live together in small glass tanks with no oportunity to choose who they live with... a bit like us having to live our whole lives in a bath-tub with our siblings I know there'd be some pretty nasty fights in my family :lol: :lol:

Yep! He's much calmer now and out in the 'boys' pond so getting plenty of those UV rays...on the odd day that summer is here.... Wounds are healing nicely. It was quite interesting doing his ABs. New technique for me. Lying him on his left side and injecting into a certain place in the skin pocket of his right back leg. Apparently all his organs fall away from the area if left side down and so less likely to damage something with the needle. Was easier then going into the leg muscle or oral ABs I must do a progress photo of his wounds sometime....when I actually have some time lol :lol: :lol:

Missing claw as well.

Hi LA, yes he was a bit of a mess... I'm a bit slow with this posting photos thing...I keep losing the jolly things :roll: But I'll post the close-ups...hopefully

Squirt was rehomed to a place with a female turtle. They were fine together for several months and Squirt was his usual placid, relaxed self. Until female one day decided to attack him and bite chunks out of his shell. He returned a completely different turtle. Biting, scared and totally traumatised.

Thanks bdspider. They really are very cruisey basking up there with 100s of people less then a metre away. (23,000 people last year in 2 weeks) Not sure LA. Almost like a thorn bush look, but then nothing on shell, so may well have been insects. After the scab came off her chin. Sores healed