My tortoise is injuried! Help

[davidningre]

Hi, my tortoise,David is injuried! I have two and they stayed together. One day, I saw blood and realised David's tail was half bitten off! his wound is still raw! What should I do? They live in water 24 hours, is that right?

And should I separate the two? They have been living in the same container for many years, I really do not wish for them to be lonely without companionship.

 

[egyptiandan]

Hi,
It sounds like you have 2 turtles. Your going to need to seperate your turtles, as the one doing the biting isn't going to stop. You will need to treat the bitten one with time out of the water (an hour a day) and antibiotic ointment on the wound.
If you could post pictures that would help.

Danny

 

[Maggie Cummings]

You need to figure out what species they are so you can take proper care of them. Tortoises don't live in water, turtles do. You're going to have to separate them as the biter won't stop biting now, generally that happens when they don't have enough room. Put some antibiotic cream on the wound and keep it out of the water. Can you take it to a Vet? That might be necessary...

 

[Yvonne G]

Like Maggie has said, when over-crowded, turtles can be aggressive towards each other. Or it might be a male/male thing. I've seen lots of turtles with their tails bitten off, or toes, etc. Turtles can be pretty aggressive towards each other. You will now have to keep them in separate containers. If you don't want to dry-dock the one with the injury to its tail, then you will have to keep the water extremely clean so it doesn't become infected.

Yvonne

 

[davidningre]

Actually, I do not know the breed. I have no knowledge at all about them, shameful to say. They were abandoned and I sorta adopted them. So do help me along.

The injuried one is named David, the other is Ingre. I am not too sure if they are land or water creatures. But all along, they have been living in water (when they are are with the previous owner)

I think they are around 10 years old.

Oh dear, I am so afraid I have been treating them wrong all the time!

Please help me.

Pics of them:

 

[Yvonne G]

Don't worry!!! Calm Down!!! What you have certainly is a water turtle and you have been keeping them correctly! They DO belong in water. However they are called "semi-aquatic" which means they spend quite a bit of time on land also. So they need a dock or rock where they can climb out of the water to warm up in the sun (or light). Water turtles also have to be under the water in order to swallow their food. What have you been feeding them? From the looks of the tail on the one that hasn't been bitten, it looks male to me. Are the front claws really long? (another male trait).

Just keep him clean. This is a common injury to water turtles. But they WILL have to be separated now, as the other turtle has told the injured one that he is not welcome in that water habitat and it won't get any better between them.

Yvonne

---

And, I forgot to mention: Welcome to the forum!! We do have a section for turtles called "Turtle Talk" where you can find some more information on your turtles. I THINK they are Red Ear Sliders.

Yvonne

 

[davidningre]

Don't worry!!! Calm Down!!! What you have certainly is a water turtle and you have been keeping them correctly! They DO belong in water. However they are called "semi-aquatic" which means they spend quite a bit of time on land also. So they need a dock or rock where they can climb out of the water to warm up in the sun (or light). Water turtles also have to be under the water in order to swallow their food. What have you been feeding them? From the looks of the tail on the one that hasn't been bitten, it looks male to me. Are the front claws really long? (another male trait).

Just keep him clean. This is a common injury to water turtles. But they WILL have to be separated now, as the other turtle has told the injured one that he is not welcome in that water habitat and it won't get any better between them.

Yvonne

---

And, I forgot to mention: Welcome to the forum!! We do have a section for turtles called "Turtle Talk" where you can find some more information on your turtles. I THINK they are Red Ear Sliders.

Yvonne

---

Hahaa, thanks. I am just worried that I have been treating them wrong and they are actually suffering all these while.

A rock? Then I think I will need a bigger space cuz they are both pretty big. around 8 inches long.

If Ingre is a male, then perhaps David is a female? Will you be able to tell from their shell? Cuz Ingre has a smooth shell whereas David actually has a bumpy shell. Sorry I can't quite properly describe it.

I have been feeding them turtle pellets(brand is Aromas). Ocassionally, I give them lettuces and random greens from the supermarket. Oh, I gave them pears and apple slices before.

Do they have to be fully submerge in water? Cuz I am not too sure about the water level. For now, it is about to their feet. But their shell oftens looks dry and will flake off when I wash them.

Pretty sad but I guess they will have to be seperated.

---

 

[Maggie Cummings]

The species is called Red earred sliders. They need to be fully submerged in water...or maybe I should say they should be submerged in water. They should be in an aquarium. Both are male so you should seperate them or the aggression will continue. They need the water temperature to be about 75 degrees and a basking platform temp of 85 or hotter. Do you have them under any type of light? Are you capable of getting them the equipment they need? Here is a link to a care sheet so you can read up on their care...
I hope this helps you...please continue to ask questions and let us help you...

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/trachemyscare.htm

 

[davidningre]

The species is called Red earred sliders. They need to be fully submerged in water...or maybe I should say they should be submerged in water. They should be in an aquarium. Both are male so you should seperate them or the aggression will continue. They need the water temperature to be about 75 degrees and a basking platform temp of 85 or hotter. Do you have them under any type of light? Are you capable of getting them the equipment they need? Here is a link to a care sheet so you can read up on their care...
I hope this helps you...please continue to ask questions and let us help you...

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/trachemyscare.htm

Hi Maggie3fan, I am currently reading up on them on the internet.

Hmm, where I lived (tropical), the average temperature ranges from 80 -90 degree all year long, do I still need a lamp?

Cuz I am still a student, and from what I am reading up on so far, there's a long list of things to buy so I can give them a proper home.

The list I got from the internet

A.) Recommended Setup:

Equipment:

1.) Enclosure: 20 gallon long aquarium.

(Horizontal size is more important than vertical, hence the ‘long’)

2.) Stand: Aquarium stand.

3.) Cover: Aquarium Hood (or screen & strip light) with fluorescent light

4.) UV-B Light Source: ReptiSun 5.0 UV-B fluorescent light bulb

Note: UV-B light doesn’t penetrate glass. You must not have any glass between the ReptiSun bulb and your turtle’s basking site. If you have to knock a glass plate out of a hood (they’re intended as splash guards), wear protective eyewear & take proper safety precautions.

5.) Water Heater: Tronic Submersible Heater – 100 watt

6.) Filter: FilStar XP2 Canister Filter

7.) Filter Bio-media: FilStar Bio-Chem Stars

8.) Basking Spot: Piece of curved Cork Bark (sold at PetsMart)

9.) Basking Light: A lamp with a 60 watt light bulb (basking light must be suspendable over the basking ramp).

10.) Gravel Vacuum (Get one that primes easily!)

11.) Thermometer.

12.) Food: A can of ReptoMin Baby Aquatic Turtle Food

13.) Cuttlebone (from the Bird section)

14.) Clump of Romaine lettuce at grocery store

Do I really need the above? Cuz tbh, I can't afford it but I do not wish to give them away.

Can anyone give me a list of the essential must-buy?

Thanks

 

[egyptiandan]

Yes they are Red-eared sliders. They though look like females to me though.
You've gotten loads of great advice from the dynamic duo not much I can add.

Danny

 

[Yvonne G]

Since you live in a tropical climate, you probably won't need a water heater. The water can be anywhere from 68 to 75 degrees, and if you place a light over the basking spot (either a flat rock or some sort of dock) the basking spot should be up in the 80's. Since you don't have them in an aquarium, and don't want to buy a filter, then you need to change the water every other day or so. They get the water dirty quickly and you need to keep it clean. Your turtles look pretty big to me and I don't think a 20 gallon long aquarium is big enough. Is there some way you can keep them outside? They really do better outside. I have mine in a horse trough with a brick in the middle for them to climb up on. The water is as warm as the summer days allow it to be and the basking on the brick is in the sun, so its pretty warm up there for them. Since I don't have a filter, I also don't use gravel. Its just the bare horse trough. When I change the water, I siphon it out with a hose and re-fill with water from the hose. Of course, this is all only if your weather is warm enough this time of year for them to live outside.

Yvonne

 

[evin]

a bigger tank than 20 gallons is needed for them it should be about 10 gallons per inch of turtle, a hood or screen top are not all that great for turtles. but other than that the list looks pretty good

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Yes they are Red-eared sliders. They though look like females to me though.
You've gotten loads of great advice from the dynamic duo not much I can add.

Danny

You'd be saying they were males if I said they were females...tho...

 

[egyptiandan]

No, I'd be agreeing this time

Danny

 

[Maggie Cummings]

OK OK OK!!! You win again...they do look like females. Males are longer and less wide. Too bad we can't see the claws.

davidningre, you need a bigger tank, you can look on Craigslist and generally find some free stuff there, or shop around your town for something bigger for them. You just need a bigger tank, a basking light (that can be just a 100 watt incandescent bulb) and a platform for them to bask on. I take a plastic plant pot and cut a hole on it for a cave for them, then I place a large flat rock on top to hold it down and give them a basking platform. Aquatics get most of the nourishment they need from their food, so you don't have to worry about UVB lights, but you do have to worry about feeding them a variety of healthy foods....

 

[egyptiandan]

I'm not sure if there is a craigslist in Singapore, Maggie

Danny

 

[Maggie Cummings]

How do you know he's in Singapore? I went back thru the posts and I can't see Singapore anywhere...you know...just once I would like to give some good advice. It's stuff like this why I told my sister I wasn't gonna offer advice anymore...stick a fork in me...ding
and no Danny...it has nothing to do with you. I like you a lot and I enjoy the sparring...

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Davidningre:

You won't have to separate them if you can find a big enough container for them. Do they sell those plastic wading pools in Singapore (And Maggie: I was also wondering how he knew davidningre is from Singapore)? Or a horse water trough? Something larger than a 50 gallon aquarium. If they have enough room, there probably won't be anymore violence.

Yvonne

 

[egyptiandan]

Secrets, secrets, secrets I took his IP address and searched it. It comes up Singapore.

Maggie this isn't sparring. Sparring is what I do with Ed and Ed wannabes. Don't you dare quit giving advice. We need the dynamic duo intact. In the future I will post where everyone is.

Danny

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Secrets, secrets, secrets I took his IP address and searched it. It comes up Singapore.

Maggie this isn't sparring. Sparring is what I do with Ed and Ed wannabes. Don't you dare quit giving advice. We need the dynamic duo intact. In the future I will post where everyone is.

Danny

You haven't noticed I'm an Ed wannabe??? I like being part of a Dynamic Duo...She and I used to load up a group of tortoises and set up a tortoise information booth at various events around Fresno. If they were having a dog and cat adoption fair we'd bring a big fence and her 100 pound Sulcata and a group of other tortoises/turtles and we'd have a booth that ALWAYS had a large group surrounding us. I am outgoing and funny and she is withdrawn but with all the knowledge. One time they had her on TV. It was more fun! I loved doing that stuff with her. We'd go on yard inspections when someone wanted to adopt a tortoise from her and we'd make a day of it, driving around doing these inspections and we'd get back in the car most of the time with one mind...Nope, we aren't adopting a tortoise to them! Or yes we will...We got a call one time that these people and found a tortoise and they didn't want it and could we come get it. So we hopped in my sister's new bright red pick-up truck and we headed out. We got close to the address and the neighborhood was really sleazy. The kind a couple of girls shouldn't be in at night. But it was daytime and I'm brave, we found the house, it was falling in on itself...we knocked and knocked and couldn't get an answer. It was far across town and we didn't want to come back, so I crept around down the drive way and...I could hear the LOUD squeeking of bedsprings!!! So I hollered at the window "hey any body home"? Some guy hollers back and in a few minutes here they came to the door, all sweaty with hair sticking out all over. He was in his 30's all skinny and dirty and she was a fat teenager half dressed with bright red cheeks. They gave us the tortoise and we ran off laughing like a couple of young kids. The tortoise was a RES...but we used to have more fun doing that stuff together. Now I'm up here in the frozen North and I don't get to spend time with her anymore and I really miss that...