My Spotted Turtle

Freddy90

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
114
Location (City and/or State)
Austria
Hey everyone!
This is a thread where I will post pictures and updates of my spotted turtle Petrie :)

This is how his setup currently looks.
20200916_091418.jpg


Finally spied on him basking :)
Screenshot_20200916-091725_Video Player.jpg

Petrie in his separate feeding tub
Screenshot_20200916-091845_Gallery.jpg

Thanks to all here who helped me with answering all my questions. This forum is great! :)
 

Paschendale52

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2015
Messages
237
Thats super cool. Hows the filtration? Do you have to change a prefilter pretty often? It seems like you've got a great naturalistic environment there.
 

Freddy90

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
114
Location (City and/or State)
Austria
Thats super cool. Hows the filtration? Do you have to change a prefilter pretty often? It seems like you've got a great naturalistic environment there.

Thank u!
I dont use filtration currently besides the natural bacteria. If he gets bigger I will ad a filter. I do a 100% water change ones a week. I would probably get away with 2 week water changes cause there are a lot of surface plants and underwater plants.
This setup was done a few months prior to getting the turtle which is important so the beneficial bacteria has time to grow.
:)
 

Freddy90

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
114
Location (City and/or State)
Austria
Recently had a bit of cold weather with nights in the 7°c range. But today the sun is back out with 19°c in the shade and 27-31°c in the sun.
20200928_131357.jpg

He had no problems with the cold nights and his appetite is enormous only took him 1 minutes to eat these 3 mealworms :) Screenshot_20200928-133106_Gallery.jpg
 

Freddy90

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
114
Location (City and/or State)
Austria
Getting cold and nature helped me to naturally lower the temps. I put Petrie in the fridge for safe hibernation at 4°C.
Hes doing good so far. I will check his weight every two weeks. Opening the fridge every 4 days for a short time just to make sure everything looks ok and a little air gets exchanged.
He will be in hibernation till March.

28.10.2020: 17 grams
 

Freddy90

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
114
Location (City and/or State)
Austria
17 gms! He seems so tiny to hibernate! I'd be petrified!

I was to at the beginning of my research but they also do it in nature without any help and im providing stable temperatures so there's no possible danger of freezing and no danger of predators. These two things seem to be the highest problem for turtles during hibernation.

I'm 100% sure that he will be alright. :)

I only hibernate him because I know that his parents are from canada. Now if I wouldn't know the locality they are from I wouldn't risk it.
 

Freddy90

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
114
Location (City and/or State)
Austria
Little text update not much to say and see. He has not lost weight so far. Hes inactive but responds to the touch of his feet.

12 januar: 17 grams

I post the Next update in March when he is finished with his winter sleep and again in his outside tub. :)
 

Richardidn

New Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2021
Messages
14
Location (City and/or State)
JAKARTA UTARA
Little text update not much to say and see. He has not lost weight so far. Hes inactive but responds to the touch of his feet.

12 januar: 17 grams

I post the Next update in March when he is finished with his winter sleep and again in his outside tub. :)

Wow, I really liked your post. I'm curious of how is Petrie doing, pls tag me on your next update !
 

Freddy90

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
114
Location (City and/or State)
Austria
Careful about doing a 100% water change
you don't want to kill too much bacteria

Yes thank u. I have read about this recently and will change next season to only 20% water changes per 2 weeks and occasionally topping of the water that evaporated. :)
 

SasquatchTortoise

Active Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2020
Messages
332
Location (City and/or State)
Forth Worth, Texas
Yes thank u. I have read about this recently and will change next season to only 20% water changes per 2 weeks and occasionally topping of the water that evaporated. :)
I would say 50% once a week or every other week since torts poo a lot. Or you could do the 20% and "vaccum" the bottom to clean up waste
 

Freddy90

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
114
Location (City and/or State)
Austria
Finally the temperatures are rising :)
Petrie is awake and well. After a litte over 4 months in the fridge hes now back in his outside tub. Maybe u can spot him :)
20210311_123125.jpg
 

jeff kushner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Messages
2,688
Location (City and/or State)
North of Annapolis
Spot him? I'm lucky to find the bathroom in the middle of the night.......lol

He's a really cool looking turtle and very healthy appearing too!

If I were hunting turtles, I'd swoop in on him @ right/center bottom....

Great habitat.....you've got a really nice balance. What temp is the water?

jeff
 

Freddy90

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
114
Location (City and/or State)
Austria
Spot him? I'm lucky to find the bathroom in the middle of the night.......lol

He's a really cool looking turtle and very healthy appearing too!

If I were hunting turtles, I'd swoop in on him @ right/center bottom....

Great habitat.....you've got a really nice balance. What temp is the water?

jeff

Water temperature was 14°c i Think thats 57 f ?
Today water temperature is 16°c
And 24°c in the sun :)
Nights drop down to 10°c
 

Freddy90

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
114
Location (City and/or State)
Austria
Hey everyone :)
Updated my spotted turtle tub.
I was bored and decided to give him more space. This is a new way bigger tub. I also added a small filter just to move the water a bit. Gave him plenty of stuff to climb around and the plants are growing great. He even has tadpoles now to chase around :)
 

Attachments

  • 20210426_170000.jpg
    20210426_170000.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 35
  • 20210426_170009.jpg
    20210426_170009.jpg
    2 MB · Views: 34
  • 20210426_170745.jpg
    20210426_170745.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 35

DoubleD1996!

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2021
Messages
1,257
Location (City and/or State)
Memphis
Top