Hello all!
Where to start? I have a client at work who I occasionally make house calls on since she and her husband work from home. They are nice people, animals lovers, who happen to have 2 turtles and a tortoise in a 100gal aquarium. They are from a generation that doesn't seek answers on the net and have been given the wrong care requirements by pet stores for 15 years. They were dumped on them by their nephew when he left for college. They have two box turtles (3 toe and an ornate) and a Hinge-back and all are in rough shape. Ill be honest, I'm actually shocked they are still alive. All 3 exhibit signs of lack of calcium and dehydration from incorrect care including no UVB and no exposure to sunlight. I honestly cannot believe the 3 toe and the hinge-back are alive and respiratory illness hasn't killed them. It's been on my mind for months and during a house call this week I agreed to take them.
I'm very familiar with box turtle care as I've cared for a rescued 3 toed hatchling for 2 years now. It lives outdoors in a 50 gal storage box with soil and mulch and is happy and healthy with a standard, alternating diet of greens and live insects / worms. I have a game plan in place for the two box turtles and will be moving them outside as soon as I pick them up tomorrow. They will not be coming into any contact with my other resident box turtle to prevent spread of disease and I am debating on separating the box turtles. Considering their age, they are undersized, and in serious need of TLC and proper conditions. They need nail trims, beak trims, and a total diet overhaul. They have been given live food once in 15 years and that was a month ago. Their skin is so dry and they look so sad. Their arms are so dried and crusty they have no color. Ill get pics up tomorrow when I pick them up.
On to the hinge-back who i have in my care now. I know next to nothing about hinge-backs other than what I have learned so far from researching on the net. At first i thought it was a very deformed Sulcata. Are the care requirements similar to a 3toed box turtle? How about diet? (hinge-back hasnt had any live food in 15 years) Im concerned about the outdoor temp. Its in the 90's after noon. I live in Houston and it gets seriously hot and muggy when it's not receiving biblical floods. I currently have the hinge in a 50 gal storage container with a deep layer of moist hardwood mulch. The container is placed on a west fence, gets morning sunlight, has a soaking dish, and a hiding spot. This container is temporary while I begin to build it an outdoor habitat along the west fence. I'm still tossing ideas around but I need to nail its care requirements before I do anything. I hope to build a 8' x 8' in ground habitat along the fence and possibly keep all 3 together if their care permits. They've been together already for 15 years, whatever that counts for. From what I have learned so far, care requirements for both hinge-back and box turtles appears very similar, specifically the 3 toed with its love of water.
All 3 of my new residents need serious rehydration. The hinge looks the worst out of the three. He is super shy but is eating. He has marks on his legs and back of his neck from his skin rubbing against his shell. I put him outside today in his box but the heat really concerns me. He seemed very lethargic today after being outdoors and immediately received a soak for 15min in lukewarm water as soon as I got home from work. I am really worried I over stressed him by moving him outdoors and into this heat when he has spent over a decade indoors never once seeing or experiencing the heat and sunlight.
Im uploading some photos so you can see just how bad of shape the hinge-back is in. Notice the top of his head and the condition of his shell. He's an absolute mess and I hope I can get him healthy and provide a better home than his well meaning, previous owner. Any tips on rehabilitation and care are very much appreciated. Im planning a trip to the vet next week to do an evaluation on the hinge-back.I hope to start documenting their rehab here. Im sure nearly everyone here has seen the results of poor care. It is utterly heart breaking. Their previous owners are great people, real animal lovers, who got completely over their heads so I don't judge them.
Thank you in advance. This site has been a great resource.
Where to start? I have a client at work who I occasionally make house calls on since she and her husband work from home. They are nice people, animals lovers, who happen to have 2 turtles and a tortoise in a 100gal aquarium. They are from a generation that doesn't seek answers on the net and have been given the wrong care requirements by pet stores for 15 years. They were dumped on them by their nephew when he left for college. They have two box turtles (3 toe and an ornate) and a Hinge-back and all are in rough shape. Ill be honest, I'm actually shocked they are still alive. All 3 exhibit signs of lack of calcium and dehydration from incorrect care including no UVB and no exposure to sunlight. I honestly cannot believe the 3 toe and the hinge-back are alive and respiratory illness hasn't killed them. It's been on my mind for months and during a house call this week I agreed to take them.
I'm very familiar with box turtle care as I've cared for a rescued 3 toed hatchling for 2 years now. It lives outdoors in a 50 gal storage box with soil and mulch and is happy and healthy with a standard, alternating diet of greens and live insects / worms. I have a game plan in place for the two box turtles and will be moving them outside as soon as I pick them up tomorrow. They will not be coming into any contact with my other resident box turtle to prevent spread of disease and I am debating on separating the box turtles. Considering their age, they are undersized, and in serious need of TLC and proper conditions. They need nail trims, beak trims, and a total diet overhaul. They have been given live food once in 15 years and that was a month ago. Their skin is so dry and they look so sad. Their arms are so dried and crusty they have no color. Ill get pics up tomorrow when I pick them up.
On to the hinge-back who i have in my care now. I know next to nothing about hinge-backs other than what I have learned so far from researching on the net. At first i thought it was a very deformed Sulcata. Are the care requirements similar to a 3toed box turtle? How about diet? (hinge-back hasnt had any live food in 15 years) Im concerned about the outdoor temp. Its in the 90's after noon. I live in Houston and it gets seriously hot and muggy when it's not receiving biblical floods. I currently have the hinge in a 50 gal storage container with a deep layer of moist hardwood mulch. The container is placed on a west fence, gets morning sunlight, has a soaking dish, and a hiding spot. This container is temporary while I begin to build it an outdoor habitat along the west fence. I'm still tossing ideas around but I need to nail its care requirements before I do anything. I hope to build a 8' x 8' in ground habitat along the fence and possibly keep all 3 together if their care permits. They've been together already for 15 years, whatever that counts for. From what I have learned so far, care requirements for both hinge-back and box turtles appears very similar, specifically the 3 toed with its love of water.
All 3 of my new residents need serious rehydration. The hinge looks the worst out of the three. He is super shy but is eating. He has marks on his legs and back of his neck from his skin rubbing against his shell. I put him outside today in his box but the heat really concerns me. He seemed very lethargic today after being outdoors and immediately received a soak for 15min in lukewarm water as soon as I got home from work. I am really worried I over stressed him by moving him outdoors and into this heat when he has spent over a decade indoors never once seeing or experiencing the heat and sunlight.
Im uploading some photos so you can see just how bad of shape the hinge-back is in. Notice the top of his head and the condition of his shell. He's an absolute mess and I hope I can get him healthy and provide a better home than his well meaning, previous owner. Any tips on rehabilitation and care are very much appreciated. Im planning a trip to the vet next week to do an evaluation on the hinge-back.I hope to start documenting their rehab here. Im sure nearly everyone here has seen the results of poor care. It is utterly heart breaking. Their previous owners are great people, real animal lovers, who got completely over their heads so I don't judge them.
Thank you in advance. This site has been a great resource.
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