Introducing my boxies

[Hunahpu]

I'm new to the forum (after lurking for quite a while) and I posted an intro about myself already, but I figured I'd introduce my boxies too.

This is Roadkill, my ornate. (Yes, go ahead and snicker. ) I've had him for nearly 20 years and he's the most amazing animal I've ever had. When we moved into an apartment he got a turtle table in the main room and is loving the attention. Very social guy.

This is our new gal who arrived yesterday. She hasn't been named yet and is very much adjusting to her new home (separate table from Roadkill at least for the quarantine, if not longer). She's a TTBT, but I think she has a lot of eastern in her bloodline somewhere.

I think she's gorgeous, but I'm kind of upset that she arrived with some old and minor damage to her shell and a strange bump on the top of her head. (You can see it in the pic.) I haven't made a vet checkup appointment yet, but I'm wondering if the bump is an abscess.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Hunapu:

Your box turtles are beautiful. The ornate needs its beak trimmed.

 

[dmarcus]

Hello and welcome to the forum...

 

[jojodesca]

Very Nice boxies....yeah it might be an abscess, best to have it checked out

 

[turtlemann2]

Wonderful ! Welcome to Tortoiseforum officially! lol
It may be best to keep them seperate or you may end up with your male ornate being overly aggresive with your lone female TTBT, or it may end up with hybrid babies

The beak trimming is common it happens they are easily taken care of especially since yours isnt too bad

The thing with ear absesses is that they dont go away until they pop (Explode).. which is very painful. My penelope had one a few months back and after a vet visit where it was lanced off and cleaned she was good as new . I also just recently adopted a few new gulf coast box turtles and it does appear one of the females also has the beginning of an absess common but treatible.

Hope you stick around and become a large part of the turtly conversation

 

[Hunahpu]

Thank you for the warm welcomes.

The picture of Roadkill is from about a year ago- his beak has been trimmed since. He has a cuttle bone and gets harder foods too, but he's a tad stubborn and tends to avoid them.

Thank you for the advice about the possible abscess. I've never encountered this before and I am worried about her comfort level. She seems to enjoy having the base of her head and neck rubbed though, which surprised me. It doesn't seem like the bump is painful right now. Still, a vet visit is in order. The cause is usually bacterial, correct?

We have the accommodations to keep them separate long-term, so its not an issue if they aren't housed together. The aggression and breeding issues are definitely something to take into account. I certainly wouldn't want anyone to get injured/ill and I didn't get her to breed. Although baby turtles are awesome, I don't want the challenge or responsibility at the moment.

 

[turtlemann2]

yes it is USUALLY bacterial sometimes caused by a dirty water bowl (not dirt dirty build up of feces dirty) but there are other causes too

 

[fbsmith3]

Yes boxies are always fun. As for males with females. The nicest sweetest male can be a real jerk to a single female. Males never stop trying to mate and even if you have 2 females, if one is talented at hiding he will harass the female he can find. Good luck

 

[pryncesssc]

Yes boxies are always fun. As for males with females. The nicest sweetest male can be a real jerk to a single female. Males never stop trying to mate and even if you have 2 females, if one is talented at hiding he will harass the female he can find. Good luck

Sounds exactly like human males

 

[turtlemann2]

Ouch! i take offence to that comment! But it was well said the sweetest lone male can turn into an arsehole literally instantly

 

[Hunahpu]

I'll definitely keep them separate then. Although I love them both dearly, Roadkill does have an attitude to begin with.

I took Zora (the female) to the vet yesterday and confirmed that she does indeed have an abscess on her neck. She's also underweight and has a high parasite count in her stool, so she's going on some meds and some enriched food until she's healthy enough to remove the abscess. (The vet said that she was hesitant to remove it until her other issues improve.) I'm less than pleased with the individual I got her from, but at least she's being cared for now.

 

[turtlemann2]

do you mind me asking whom you got her from? some one on here or kingsnake or a friend maybe?

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Very nice!

 

[lynnedit]

Well good thing she found you!
Both nice looking turtles (even with her bump).

 

[Hunahpu]

I got her from Exotic Pets LV (found her on a listing on Kingsnake). I called them and the owner offered to take her back and give me a refund, but she's already receiving veterinary care and we've become rather fond of her already.

 

[terryo]

Very lucky he found you. Someone else might have given him back and he must not have gotten the greatest care where he came from. They are both beautiful.

 

[Saloli]

Sheldon is not like some males he pretty much mates a few times in spring and fall but that's it. I don't know how my young males (who still have no names) will be but I'm hoping that they will be likewise peaceful males if not I'll have to separate them. Sheldon he doesn't pay much attention to them.