RES hatchling help

[Katherine]

We are expecting an unusual freeze tonight and so naturally I walked all my pens to make sure the African tortoises were in their warm boxes and that the box turtles were snuggled into their hibernaculum.

While walking the box turtle pen I found something unusual, a tiny red ear slider hatchling! Just one little guy, I'm guessing his mom most have nested abutting the enclosure and when he hatched he dug up inside the pen instead of out. Normally I would just place him on the otherside of the wall but like I said we are expecting a freeze tonight. Am I doing this guy any favors by bring him in for a few nights or should I just pop him on the other side of the fence?? If I do bring him in until the cold front passes how can I ensure his well being for a few days? I do not keep any water turtles currently, his mom was definitely wild and from the little tributary behind my house- she must have just seen a turtle friendly yard and chosen to lay here. Advice/opinions welcome. Thank you!!!

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The little guy

 

[wellington]

I don't know much about them either. Normally I would leave nature alone. However in this situation, I would think it best to bring him in until it is warm enough to let him go. The weird weather everyone has been having this winter is making a lot of things blossom and come up early from hibernating etc. Maybe let nature be nature, no matter how cruel it seems it would be. I don't think I could, knowing he would probably freeze. Wait and see what others have to say.
Good luck.

 

[Katherine]

Thanks. That's pretty much where I am at as well, moral dilemma. I guess it would be easier to decide had he been outside of my box turtle pen but I feel like he couldn't get down to his natural microclimate bc he was stuck in the pen. I hate to interfere but guiltily feel like I already have, just by having such a barrier in my yard : /

 

[wellington]

I have been thinking about this since my last post. If I were you, I would do what you feel best and what you can live with. With an UNUSUAL cold spell, well, that is kinda like nature screwing up a little. I don't think it will hurt him at all to take him in. I used to catch turtles when I was a kid camping. I would sometimes keep them for the weekend, until we had to leave to go home, then I would let them go. I am sure they did just fine, and were very glad to be let go also.

 

[Katherine]

Thank you! I did bring it in, just put it in a sweater box with some worms, grass and water and am trying not to mess with it. I plan on putting it right back where I found it but on the "freedom" side of the fence as soon as the weather passes. Its probable he would have been fine out there but I feel better knowing he will be safe from the freeze and giving him a little assistance over the fence. Plus I have some aggressive male box turtles whom would likely not have enjoyed his company should they have found him in there.

 

[wellington]

Sounds Great. I think you did good.

 

[Turtleswagg]

put him in a little container with water just up to the top of his shell. put a drop or two of water declorinator if possible, but he should be fine without it for a couple days. keep him inside and throw in a few bugs (crickets, rollie-pollies, ect.) until its warm outside.

 

[DanaLachney]

He also needs some sort of heat source a basking lamp perhaps. Keeping aquatic turtles is much like tortoises in the aspect of heat and UVB in a normal aquatic turtle tank for a hatchling the water needs to be around 80 degrees with a basking spot like 90. They also cannot swallow outside of the water because they don't have any saliva.

 

[Turtleswagg]

He also needs some sort of heat source a basking lamp perhaps. Keeping aquatic turtles is much like tortoises in the aspect of heat and UVB in a normal aquatic turtle tank for a hatchling the water needs to be around 80 degrees with a basking spot like 90. They also cannot swallow outside of the water because they don't have any saliva.

agreed

 

[Katherine]

Thanks guys! I had orig put him in a sweater box with water and some stones to get out of the water with a basking lamp, buuuuut he managed to climb out so I moved him to a full on a aquarium w heat and basking lamp... Wasn't planning on going all out seeing as it was only for three days but those little bigger climb better than my box turtles- something I never thought I'd say! Here he is in his glory days...



I have never had water turtles so it was a kind of cool experience, plus like all small things with shells- he was painfully adorable!

 

[DanaLachney]

Aww how is he doing? Have you released him or decided to keep him

 

[Turtleswagg]

u should keep him, hes gonna force u to buy more 

 

[mel262011]

Mine were that size when I got them. Lovely animals, they really are.

 

[DanaLachney]

I lost one of my Res (my favorite) recently the other one just didn't bond with us for some reason

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Here are some pictures of him in his glory days before he passed away he was my baby named Doddle cuz my son couldn't say turtle

 

[zesty_17]

I don't know much about them either. Normally I would leave nature alone. However in this situation, I would think it best to bring him in until it is warm enough to let him go. The weird weather everyone has been having this winter is making a lot of things blossom and come up early from hibernating etc. Maybe let nature be nature, no matter how cruel it seems it would be. I don't think I could, knowing he would probably freeze. Wait and see what others have to say.
Good luck.

i agree, he may have been dropped in by a bird. if it were me i would keep him in quarantine until the weather warmed up then release.

 

[jonathan512]