Found you all again!

[Lyndi]

Hello, I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't visited this site since 2020. No-one to blame but myself, I must be the most disorganised person ever. I think one of the last times I posted I was going to sort out some decent photos of my two rescue turtles, Bailey and Ziggy, so someone could id them for me, but Life got in the way - work, home, health of family members - and I just never got around to it and then I felt awful for staying away so long... Anyway, hope you forgive me and have me back - and at the risk of it seeming like Groundhog Day, I will get some pics up of my turtle children very soon!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Hello, I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't visited this site since 2020. No-one to blame but myself, I must be the most disorganised person ever. I think one of the last times I posted I was going to sort out some decent photos of my two rescue turtles, Bailey and Ziggy, so someone could id them for me, but Life got in the way - work, home, health of family members - and I just never got around to it and then I felt awful for staying away so long... Anyway, hope you forgive me and have me back - and at the risk of it seeming like Groundhog Day, I will get some pics up of my turtle children very soon!

April 13th 2020.
Almost 3 years.
Welcome back

 

[Karen(pebbles)]

welcome back

 

[TammyJ]

Hi and welcome back.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hey, Lyndi! Love to see those pictures!!

 

[wellington]

Welcome back and you are always welcomed, no matter how long it's been.

 

[Beasty_Artemis]

You need to post those turtles pics!

 

[Lyndi]

Okay, after nearly three years... here are some photogs of Bailey and Ziggy. I rescued both three years ago from the school I work at. They had been given to the school as 'pets', in one tank, when an ex colleague's daughter went to uni and no longer wanted them. I think they are now about 8yrs old. The school had them for nearly four years but the bigger they got the less well they were being looked after. An outside agency was coming in to maintain them once a month but then told school they weren't prepared to do it any more unless the turtles got better care in school. The head teacher decided it just wasn’t practical to have turtles in a school and wanted them gone. In stepped yours truly and offered them a home. At the time I had every intention of it being a temporary arrangement but, three years later... I quickly realised just how much time and expense goes into keeping turtles and although I am no expert by any means, I don't feel I can rehome either of them unless I'm 100% sure they won't be ending up somewhere where they are neglected again or kept in unsuitable conditions.
Anyway, I've waffled on enough! When you've looked at the pics, could someone confirm to me what breed they are, please? Thank-you!
Bailey first, then Ziggy.

 

[Lyndi]

And here's two just of Zigs to show you the plastron (breed?) and size of tail (sex?).
Ziggy often sits like that on the rock but it's something Bailey never does. Ziggy likes to bask more often than Bailey, too, and is a lot quieter and more shy than Bailey. Bailey seems more active - trying to get pics was a pain! - and will happily swim to greet me and likes to be hand fed, whereas Ziggy won't do that.

 

[TammyJ]

They are beautiful! I can't guess the species though. Musk or mud? @Yvonne G @zovick

 

[TammyJ]

Looks like maybe European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis)?

 

[TammyJ]

Looks like maybe European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis)?

No Tammy. They don't have such pointed noses!

 

[TammyJ]

Sigh. Really want some identification here. @Markw84 @TeamZissou

 

[TammyJ]

Hey, Lyndi! Love to see those pictures!!

Where are you? We need to ID the turtles?

 

[TeamZissou]

Hey Tammies, if I had to guess I'd say it's an eastern musk turtle, sternotherus odoratus

 

[Lyndi]

I've had several people tell me they are Musk turtles, but also I've had folk ponder over the fact they may be Mud turtles! What I'd like to know is how can one tell the difference between Mud and Musk? Also, are they ladies, or gentlemen?

 

[TammyJ]

Hey Tammies, if I had to guess I'd say it's an eastern musk turtle, sternotherus odoratus

The thing is that the poster is in Lancashire which I presume is in England, so I looked for European turtles and it seems similar from the pictures.

 

[TammyJ]

Hey Tammies, if I had to guess I'd say it's an eastern musk turtle, sternotherus odoratus

Ok thanks! I see Lyndi is in Lancashire which I presume is in England, so I checked the European turtles and it looked kind of similar.

 

[Lyndi]

Ok thanks! I see Lyndi is in Lancashire which I presume is in England, so I checked the European turtles and it looked kind of similar.

I  am in the North of England.

 

[TammyJ]

Can you get clearer pictures of the plastron on each one so we might guess at their sex?