DonnaM Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Heres some shots of a number of turtles that have ended up here over the past 18mths or so. No particular order. Some don't make it, most do. 8 yr old female RES. The seemingly superficial areas of grey discolouration hide multiple ulcers penetrating deeply into her. Red skin showed she had septicaemia and her pale mouth was indicative of anaemia. She was euthanaised. Owner had no idea how sick she was. No 'obvious symptoms. Main ulcerated area. The smaller area on the edge penetrated right through to the other side. Removing the cheesy like substance from the ulcer. It smells awful! Red skin from septicaemia Scutes rotted through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 These were caused by rough rocks in her tank. Rocks would have caused tiny wounds which have then begun to ulcerate into the bone as turtles are living in bacteria filled water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 20 yr old Sakara with her grossly deformed shell. Spent time here after the Sept quake and then returned to her lovely owners. The damage would have been caused from a small tank in the first years of her life, prior to when her current owners adopted her. She had the biggest head I have EVER see on a turtle and was very heavy. She 'walked' through the water rather then swimming. She lay several large, kidney shaped eggs while she was here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Algae and unshed scutes due to Squirt living in a tank with glass lids instead of having it open. The lids have prevented his scutes drying out enough for him to shed. He had a UVB reptile light...but sitting on top of glass so a waste of time. He didnt have a heat light, so that also prevents him drying completely and can also lead to permanent eye damage as he is likely to look directly at the UVB light as no heat is emitted from it. One month later. All the built-up scutes and algae have been removed and he is basking in the correct environment. His owners didnt recognise him. Earthquake refugee, so no idea when he can go home again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 "Pancake". Earthquake refugee, now returned home last week. Owners didnt realise he shouldnt be this shape or colour. Built-up scutes due to lids on tank, incorrect lighting etc. Lack of calcium in his diet... too many blood worms...have seen his carapace underdeveloped. When I removed the unshed scutes, there were 2 areas of rot beginning underneath. They are still healing, but if they hadnt been found he would have eventually died. Plastron Removing the unshed scutes layer by layer Multiple micro-ulcers were revealed under the scutes. These were caused by grit from stones in the tank which get caught under the scutes and caused ulcers from the friction. Ouch! These will be permanent holes and have the potential to break down if they dont dry out properly when he is basking. But over time many will become shallower. He's back with his owners, loving his new tank environment and eating plenty of feeder fish :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Poor little Brighton with his prolapsed 'manly bits' :tears: He didnt respond to usual treatment and had to stay at the vet. Eventually it took a vet and 3 nurses to get it to retract. He never tried to bite once through the whole process and has been succesfully rehomed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Wow nice job. Very sad to see turtles In this state. Can I ask how you removed the unsheded scutes? I thought removin them would result in more shell problems? Good luck and I hope your turtles are ok after yesterday's earthquake :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatfish Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Wow those are some really troubled RES. Keep up the great work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxjxa Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Thank you so much for taking in and looking after these poor guys. I never knew turtles could have so many problems. :tears: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Wow nice job. Very sad to see turtles In this state. Can I ask how you removed the unsheded scutes? I thought removin them would result in more shell problems? Good luck and I hope your turtles are ok after yesterday's earthquake :0) Allowing the turtle to dry off (dry docking) and then working at the scutes that are ready to come off. They will often start to lift themselves, simply because they are dry. The vet uses a dental instrument. I use a very pointy, sharp knife. BUT this should NOT be done by anyone who is not experienced and totally sure of what they are doing. You are completely right 'Squirt', if you force even the tiniest bit of scute off the turtle that isnt ready to come off...you can cause a tiny entry point for bacteria to get in and ...Ulcerative shell disease may develop! So DON'T DO IT! :tears: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Haha I wouldn't think bout it. A scute may come off once he's been walking around dried off and he's shedding. Your doing a great job keep it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Haha I wouldn't think bout it. I know Just making sure no-one else reads it and trys :facepalm: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Little "Easter". (Guess when she arrived here 8) ) Was thick with algae which blocked any UVB light getting through to her shell. After a scrub she was very good at basking and slowly the white/grey colour is fading as she sheds and colour is returning. (Arrived Easter 2010) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Common injuries from fighting. Turtles are territorial and much better living on their own if they live in a tank! Beginning to heal. These 3 turtles took months to heal. The dead skin had to be cut off (by the vet) with scissors several times to allow healing to take place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 This little boy was attacked by a smaller female. Once there is an injury, a turtle will just keep returning and biting at that spot. It just becomes 'meat/food' :tears: After dry docking for a night the area looked quite different. Unfortunately by the time he arrived here he was passing pus. He could only move one front leg as the other 3 were contracted up, probably due to infection in his brain. He had to be euthanased Contracted feet More bite wounds on a contracted foot His left front foot was the only thing he could move and that was very hesitent and jerky. His joints were grossly swollen as well. He could have been saved if he had been treated when they first started fighting and if they had been seperated into a tank each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc254 Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 sadly pet stores and breeders just sell in volume for the $$$ Should be a licence required to sell your live stock because its really sad how people sell to owners who simply dont have a clue on what they are doing. At the end of the day its all about the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 thats like blaming a liquor store for selling liquor. :facepalm: it really is shocking how many naive people flock to the reptiles. yes some stores even breeders could educated more. but its not always that easy, ive tried many a time and people still have the same problems. people ought to take more responsibility for them selves and their pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Yes but most sellers do need to say these are difficult creatures to take care of and need certain requirements. Because most people just walk in and buy a turtle. Sellers should be able to provide CORRECT information about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 I agree with Insect Direct. People need to do some homework before buying any pet. Most shops employ pretty unskilled people at the minimum wage and require them to sell as much as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxjxa Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 If more people even googled "turtle care" before walking into a pet store, they'd be able to tell if a sales person knew what they were on about or not to start with. Better yet, by doing some research before hand they might stumble upon some turtle rescuers and choose to adopt instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Yes but most sellers do need to say these are difficult creatures to take care of and need certain requirements. Because most people just walk in and buy a turtle. Sellers should be able to provide CORRECT information about them. ALL buyers should KNOW what they're purchasing and or ask questions prior. If seller tells false info that's just wrong. Most people are aware sales men/women have a job to do. Hence most check out cars prior to purchase, regardless of what the sales person says. Red ears are actually very easy to look after imo. Just not the most practical pets for the average Jo. uv, basking bulb, good filter, huge tank/pond, variety of food. not a lot more to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Yeah I agree with you but most turtles you see on TM ect are in 100L tanks have shell issues and the water is filthy. Not saying all turtles are kept like this but some of them sure are. A lot of people buy turtles for children and don't pay a lot of attention to them, after a while they get bored with them and don't care for them properly; not doing frequent water changes turning of light scrubbing some algae. But yes RES are easy to care for if you have some common sense and do some research on them before hand. ALL buyers should KNOW what they're purchasing and or ask questions prior. If seller tells false info that's just wrong. Most people are aware sales men/women have a job to do. Hence most check out cars prior to purchase, regardless of what the sales person says. Yeah my mums mate has a turtle, good condition ect. He went to go and get a new substrate for his turtle and the sales person had sold him small stones, small enough for the turtle to eat. I have informed him to remove the rocks as it leads to impaction then thing don't get easier for the turtle. I might go out and buy some sand for him in the weekend and rinse it for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc254 Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 thats like blaming a liquor store for selling liquor. :facepalm: it really is shocking how many naive people flock to the reptiles. yes some stores even breeders could educated more. but its not always that easy, ive tried many a time and people still have the same problems. people ought to take more responsibility for them selves and their pets. but licqour stores still have some regulations arround what they can sell. (age/on and off licence/Intoxiacation) where the pet trade there isnt allot of restrictions or inforcement unless its something cuddly. Some of those photos could warrent prosacution, yes it is because they owner isnt informed properly but that excuse doesnt hold up when talking about cats and dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted June 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 8 mth old "Minnie". Eastern Long Neck. One of 2 sold by a pet shop...with a 2 ft tank full of tiny shingle, scooped up one end for a 'basking' area and a UV fish light on top of glass. Fed dry meal worms and the occasional 'slice' of a frozen piece of Hot House food. Not even a whole piece, just a tiny slice. Owner had beautiful fish in tanks and bred dogs...but relied on advice that wasnt helpful and nearly cost Minnie her (his) life. Suffered from terrible metabolic bone disease from lack of calcium and was attacked by tiny tank mate. Virtually unconscious by the time I got her. Spent 3 days just drinking antibiotics and vitamins and calcium in the water. Then had tube feeding and began to attempt to eat blood worms and calcium in the water. Slowly able to eat other food after a 2nd tube feed...not easy on something so small! Some shots of those early days. She's now a VERY cheeky, popular turtle! (Sorry, poor early photos) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Cats and dogs have a few issues as well. I would hate to think how many native animals are killed every day by cuddly lil pussies and look how many kids are being done over by dogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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