Can it be helped?
- Thread starter Katie11
- Start date
Aw, poor little Monkey. Best thing you can do is set it up indoors, in some sort of covered enclosure, with lots of plants and humidity and treat it like a brand new hatchling. Feed him a good, varied diet and provide a mild UVB light. Maintain the temperature, day and night at around 80-86°F. He will never look 'normal' but he should be ok with good care.
ZenHerper
Well-Known Member
Did the owner tell you the subspecies?
Have you been able to feed it yet?
Have you been able to feed it yet?
But it's not just humidity or damp moss he needs. It's water too. this is a turtle I was given
his is abt a 6 or 7 year old box turtle I brought back from Texas as the turtle sanctuary that had him thought he was too common and deformed...lol anyhow...you can't see her because she's buried herself in the very wet substrate. Box turtles love to bury. Here is what I have done... she's in a 50 gallon tank or outside in the pond and she has to be in at night as I have predators...
can you see her?
bet my sister sees her...
anyhow...I have about 1/3 of it with a log hide on astroturf...never seen her eat any...then I have tossed some rocks just cuz...
and daily I add water to make kind of a water feature...lol...so she can bury herself in the wet/sludge...haha
his is abt a 6 or 7 year old box turtle I brought back from Texas as the turtle sanctuary that had him thought he was too common and deformed...lol anyhow...you can't see her because she's buried herself in the very wet substrate. Box turtles love to bury. Here is what I have done... she's in a 50 gallon tank or outside in the pond and she has to be in at night as I have predators...
can you see her?
bet my sister sees her...
anyhow...I have about 1/3 of it with a log hide on astroturf...never seen her eat any...then I have tossed some rocks just cuz...
and daily I add water to make kind of a water feature...lol...so she can bury herself in the wet/sludge...haha
I thought it was a 3 toed?
TaylorTortoise
Well-Known Member
Those living conditions are amazing. Not in a good way, but just knowing they can live in these type of conditions really makes me just surprised that they can tolerate such horrible arid conditions and still live their lives of being tortoises.
jeff kushner
Well-Known Member
I've never seen that happen with a box turtle....bad joke...but he grew "up"......and I share the shell-fracture concerns. What is the best course of treatment, from our pros here? Is there one?
I applaud you Katie for rescuing the little runt.
Keep posting......and let us know how he's doing!
I applaud you Katie for rescuing the little runt.
Keep posting......and let us know how he's doing!
ZenHerper
Well-Known Member
Yes, well, it needs a very humid and even wet environment, like for captive hatchlings.
I know it's tiny, but give it at least 30 gallons of space. A terrarium would work fine. Wringing wet coco coir and/or asian moss. Ambient temps (the entire habitat) 80-86*F all the time (no basking spot necessary). A strip uvb radiation tube.
The fact that the carapace still has the hatchling spots is quite concerning. So is the possible crack. The moss nursery will hopefully provide enough humid warmth to allow keratin to be laid down and to stretch.
Feed it like a box turtle: worms and berries. Some baby food greens or pureed mature leafy greens can be dripped onto fruit to round out nutrition. If it cannot strike and eat worms, try a water-soaked meat-based turtle pellet:
www.chewy.com
Soak daily and make sure it can reach water (soak several times daily if it cannot soak itself or drink).
Holler if you need help!
I know it's tiny, but give it at least 30 gallons of space. A terrarium would work fine. Wringing wet coco coir and/or asian moss. Ambient temps (the entire habitat) 80-86*F all the time (no basking spot necessary). A strip uvb radiation tube.
The fact that the carapace still has the hatchling spots is quite concerning. So is the possible crack. The moss nursery will hopefully provide enough humid warmth to allow keratin to be laid down and to stretch.
Feed it like a box turtle: worms and berries. Some baby food greens or pureed mature leafy greens can be dripped onto fruit to round out nutrition. If it cannot strike and eat worms, try a water-soaked meat-based turtle pellet:
OMEGA ONE Adult Turtle Floating Sticks Food, 6.5-oz jar - Chewy.com
Buy Omega One Adult Turtle Floating Sticks Food, 6.5-oz jar at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!
Soak daily and make sure it can reach water (soak several times daily if it cannot soak itself or drink).
Holler if you need help!
Thank u guys for all ur input and advice..Yes, well, it needs a very humid and even wet environment, like for captive hatchlings.
I know it's tiny, but give it at least 30 gallons of space. A terrarium would work fine. Wringing wet coco coir and/or asian moss. Ambient temps (the entire habitat) 80-86*F all the time (no basking spot necessary). A strip uvb radiation tube.
The fact that the carapace still has the hatchling spots is quite concerning. So is the possible crack. The moss nursery will hopefully provide enough humid warmth to allow keratin to be laid down and to stretch.
Feed it like a box turtle: worms and berries. Some baby food greens or pureed mature leafy greens can be dripped onto fruit to round out nutrition. If it cannot strike and eat worms, try a water-soaked meat-based turtle pellet:
OMEGA ONE Adult Turtle Floating Sticks Food, 6.5-oz jar - Chewy.com
Buy Omega One Adult Turtle Floating Sticks Food, 6.5-oz jar at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!
Soak daily and make sure it can reach water (soak several times daily if it cannot soak itself or drink).
Holler if you need help!
I'll keep y'all updated
TaylorTortoise
Well-Known Member
He has an amazing character to him and charm despite it’s past upbringing.
All i know is she found it 4 yrs ago raking leaves. We live in northwest FL. It's got more than 3 toes for sure
And no it won't eat
I've tried mashed fruits and she was giving it aquatic turtle pellets for 4 yrs
I see her in the 1st pic???
Good eyes!
ZenHerper
Well-Known Member
Be patient. Turtles hate change as much as tortoises do, even if it's improvement.
Try a live worm.
This time of year there will be a really intense slow down. As long as it stays hydrated, it should be fine.
Florida box turtles often have a very distinctively striped plastron. But I think this really looks like a Gulf Coast hatchling from the top.
