I think this falls into the category of a “perfect storm” of multiple husbandry issues which could hasten the onset of problems. It only takes one husbandry issue to create a problem...I feel this poor turtle looks like it’s had every husbandry issue. But I don’t know any particulars.
Keeper needs help
- Thread starter Skip K
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When you can buy a slider for $19.99 or less vs. the cost of other turtles or a tortoise or a puppy, ....it equates to a lot of mistreatment out there ready to happen no matter their price point.
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No
But they can be born with defects.
However, that advanced shell rot didn't happen overnight either.
I recently purchased a less than 5 month old Chameleon with MBD
With no way to process calcuim from D3 and/or no calcium provided from the food. I would imagine that growing baby bones would immediately start to soften and twist under the strain of the muscles.
How would they not?
Then the bones begin to break.
It must be an agonizing slow torture.
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I was a kid of the 60s and 70s.
Back then, we had "5 and 10 cent" stores that sold household items, food and live, baby alligators.
Brings back sad memories...and my own culpability. In the 60’s when I was little...dad brought back an alligator from a business trip. We had no clue how to take care of it. Kept it indoors...in a tub of water..no UVB light...too cool...and were told to feed it hamburger. You can guess the result. I remember as a kid going to carnivals with anoles literally “pinned” to card board “boards” to sell as pets. You could get baby turtles by mailing in box tops from bubble bath. Even later on as husbandry and technology advanced...was no guarantee of anything. About 35 years ago I got two iguanas. I bought all the literature and equipment...studied everything I could...and followed it to the letter. The iguanas grew and were magnificent. Incredibly smart and interactive. I’m a turtle guy...but these were the most special reptiles I ever had. The husbandry books all said they live around 10 years. Mine lived to be around 11. I thought I did good!....until...one day I was in the corporate library eating lunch and reading a magazine that had a monthly special interest story about local people who had exotic pets. There I read a story about an old guy in Maryland who had a huge iguana. He had it since 1955 and the article was from the late 1980’s. He said it was an adult when he got it. The iguana was easily over 30 years. Sadly as it was a personal interest story with no husbandry info. But I pretty sure in the 50’s...there were no iguana manuals, no plethora of companies making equipment, supplements and diets for reptiles and since he lived Maryland...the iguana could only possibly be outside in natural light...5 months outta the year. Whatever he was doing...he had it right. And I had it wrong. My guess why my iguanas died prematurely...husbandry books back then called for higher protein diets. My iguanas were the size of his iguana at 30+ years...in less than 10. I still think about this. I had “good intentions” but it doesn’t make me feel better
In the 50' I had several RES in the plastic dish with the tree and fed them flies, like I was told. That one would die, and I'd get another. We also could go to the circus or some event like that and we could get a live chameleon to pin on our clothes I don't remember that we even fed them.
Now RES are banned in Oregon as they are feral and very aggressive and are taking away territory belonging to the very shy and not aggressive Western Pond Turtle putting them on the endangered list. And the Western Painted now on the threatened list because of RES.
Now RES are banned in Oregon as they are feral and very aggressive and are taking away territory belonging to the very shy and not aggressive Western Pond Turtle putting them on the endangered list. And the Western Painted now on the threatened list because of RES.
I remember those plastic turtle containers well. And all our pet store sold as food was dried ant eggs.
I had 2 turtles when I was about 8, probably red sliders, back in the late 50's. No instructions except feeding them fish food & mealworms. No basking rocks, lights for warming & basking, just in a gold fish bowl. They didn't last long & they were the only reptiles I ever had.
In retrospect, it was cruel. But hindsight is 100%, & we're a long way from 60 yrs. ago. Knowledge is empowering. Turtoise Forum is well worth the time.
No matter the regrets, neither of us did anything evil, just acted on what we knew at the time.
When I found out that my iguanas died prematurely...I struggled with the ethics of pet keeping...and didn’t have any pets for some time. I still struggle with it...but obviously have not thrown in the towel with pet keeping. Some may wonder why I sometimes do things differently or don’t always take advice verbatim...well...in my years I’ve heard too many times “this is the new, correct way”...only to see it change. What happened to my iguanas has stayed with me all these years. I research everything extensively...and all input I listen to...and mix in my personal experience in my decades of keeping in decisions I make. I appreciate help from anyone...but if I disagree or have a different approach...it’s not a sign of disrespect to anyone. It’s like raising kids. Everyone is different
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I understand.
My very first Redfoot PAIR I "rescued"from a co worker and proceeded to do everything wrong. Including keeping them as a pair.
Like you, I was using the information at hand. And was mostly just wrong
its so interesting to hear stories about exotic pet keeping 50+ years ago. I had no idea pinned lizards were ever a thing.
you might still see this sort of thing in foreign countries - it's just what they know, and is not necessarily intentional cruelty as the practice is fairly normal.
As we progress and improve our education system and overall awareness, I do hope we as a species gradually learn to respect the lives of animals more in the future
you might still see this sort of thing in foreign countries - it's just what they know, and is not necessarily intentional cruelty as the practice is fairly normal.
As we progress and improve our education system and overall awareness, I do hope we as a species gradually learn to respect the lives of animals more in the future
