Advice for Terrapin protection?
Iam a veterinary nurse. Tonight we had 2 terrapins dumped at the surgery. Since we usually only concordat with dogs/cats/rabbits etc I only have fixed knowledge about them. I know they are omnivores so I have bought them some watercress, some spinach and some prawns. I own put them in a deep sink with a nouns for them to climb on. Is there anything I could do for them in the mean time I am hoping they will progress on monday but will not be able to take them anywhere before.
Any warning will be gladly welcome.
Well first you should integer out what breed they are, to see the environment that they will need. But a good start would be a heat source.
If they are Diamondback Terrapins (the only terrapin species native to the US), their primary diet is fiddler crabs and periwinkle snails... but chopped shrimp and fish might do all right for now. Also, the Diamondbacks are a brackish water species, so keeping them in a low salinity would be best.
A heat lamp is a angelic idea. Also a water heater. My daughter and I enjoy a box turtle that loves meal worms!!
I trust you know they are a completely dangerous source of salmonella food poisoning and you wash your hands incredibly carefully.
Answers: I'm guessing that you are British and that the terrapins are most likely red-eared sliders and pretty small. They are tough and can last the weekend without help. Small terrapins are carnivores. They will clutch lean meat or tinned dog or cat food that does not fall apart in the water. Liver cut surrounded by strips is good too. The best water temperature is contained by the mid- to high 70s (°F) and basking temperatures should be roughly 10°F higher.
At least they didn't dump them in a trash or a ditch.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035692(a)N0...
Contact the “www.anapsid.org/societies, for a turtle vet / RESCUE surrounded by your city and state or country. I wish you luck.
My advice for if you hold on to them ot give them away to the site listed above.
Remember 10 gallons for every inch of turtle. I enjoy used kiddy pools and plastic pond liners from most nurseries and now a 150 gal pond.
They are the coolest. Not cuddly pets at all. And a energy time commitment.
Sliders, cooters , painted, map, yellow bellied all are basically like peas in a pod and require the same basic care.
For their needed protein and calcium drop 20 or so feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows surrounded by the tank and watch them disappear in a few days! When I get these two 36 yrs ago all we had in rear legs then were goldfish to feed , so after 36 yrs and still going strong. They can devour goldfish!
This way when they swim for their dinner they get exercise also! TOSS in a bird cuttle bone within the water for calcium that will promote better shell growth, it will dissolve real slow and if they munch through it that’s fine!!
They can have garden worms, meal worms, snails, crickets, flies, crayfish small frogs, slugs, tadpoles dragon flies and anything that moves, but only as a treat.
They have need of leafy greens Romaine, Butter lettuce. (Iceberg and cabbage are bad for them, any other leafy greens will do) for vitamin A that they need at least 3 to 4 times a week.
They love grapes and strawberries and squash..
Did you know that they obligation to bask under a reptile light UVA/UVB for up to 8 hrs a day for the vitamin D that they want to grow. So that means getting a turtle dock also.
Leave the heater on 75 to 78 degrees other.
These turtles in captivity do not hibernate their eating may slow down some but they will not hibernate.
These are not cuddly pets and will bite very thoroughly hard.
Under 4" they carry a disease called 'salmonella'. So you must clear up after every handling. These guys can become cannibalistic and will kill the smallest turtle if there is not plenty room and food.
And my pictures don't lie. All ages and all sizes get along as long as their is allot for swim room and plenty to get through!
Their water needs to be clean otherwise they bring back sick easily from dirty water cause they poop allot. You want a good filter system!
Total Body length: 5-8" average for males, up to 12 inches max for females. Life span: 15-25+ years
Males have the longer front nails and are used contained by mating. And are considered mature at about 5 yrs mature. You can’t start sexing till about 3” across.
Gravel larger than they can swallow.
They sleep at the bottom of rivers, streams. lakes or ponds or your tank to avoid predators approaching coyotes, foxes, owls, hawks, possums, raccoons and even some wide mouth bass and us humans.
You probably already know that they get sick easily, shell rot, respiratory sickness, lopsided swimming, coughing, blowing bubbles from their muzzle. Fungus white cotton patches on their skin?
**Swollen cloudy eyes which means lacking surrounded by Vitamin A. Which we all need for good eyes. Google ‘vegetables next to Vitamin A.
