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Help me identify my new baby turtles

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 3:16 pm
by cheezu
We got our baby turtles one week ago.
We were actually on the lookout for a Russian tortoise but we stumbled upon these little guys instead.
They were cramped along with many others in a tiny tank with very little water. These two saw us and immediately came to the front and followed our fingers so we decided to get them.
They're about 2.5 inches. The pet store owner said they're 5 months old (but I'm not sure if that's correct).
He said that he believes they're RES, but they're lacking the bright red stripes/ears. Instead theirs are yellowish/light orange.
I did some research and came to the conclusion that they may be Cumberland. I was wondering if that's in fact correct.
They're doing great. They eat without a problem (we feed them pellets, dried shrimp... I tried feeding them romaine lettuce but they just nibbled on it and never really ate it). We're thinking of expanding their tank very soon (originally the owner tried to sell them in this tiny plastic container with a plastic palm tree sticking out of the middle :? but this immediately felt wrong and we opted for a small tank instead).
My main question is -
Could anyone identify the breed?

Also, based on their size, could you determine their approximate age?

At this point they're also quite scared of us. They easily get startled. Some people recommend that handling your turtle often is good but I'm scared of frightening them too much. What's the best method to tame them?

I appreciate any help in advance. :D

Re: Help me identify my new baby turtles

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:23 pm
by cheezu
Anyone?

Re: Help me identify my new baby turtles

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 9:36 pm
by dumbork14
I'm not an expert but I'm leaning towards cumberland sliders too. In the first picture, the turtle on the left kinda looked like it has red stripes (or is it just the lighting?)

As for the age, it's difficult to tell based on their size. My turtle is 2.75 inches now and I only got her from the petstore one year ago, though her vet said she's closer to 2 years now.

As for the taming, turtles are easily scared and skittish. that's normal for them. many owners have different methods. just follow a normal schedule for feeding and basking, and sooner or later they'll come at you waving their hands everytime you come near the tank.

Re: Help me identify my new baby turtles

PostPosted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 3:49 am
by Linus
From the pics, they look like RES.

It's possible they're Hybrid of RES X Cumberland, but I would need pictures with better light to be able to tell.

Re: Help me identify my new baby turtles

PostPosted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 5:08 am
by cheezu
Thanks for the replies.
No, their stripes aren't red like that of RES (sorry if the photos are bad. I took them with the iPad). They're very light orange/darker yellow (just one tone darker than the rest of the stripes on their body which are yellow). I've seen baby RES at a different pet store and also many photos on this board and their stripes seem distinctly red (or can this vary, too?).
I try handling them more and everyday we take them out of their tank and put them in a little box where we pet them and try to hold them. But I think this stresses them out big time because they keep running around, trying to get out. Yesterday one of them also pooped immediately when I put him down in the box (could it be due to stress?) Also, whenever one of them is basking and we happen to make any movement, it jumps right in and starts swimming frantically.

Re: Help me identify my new baby turtles

PostPosted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:43 pm
by cheezu
So I just read that not all RES actually have red ears as the name would suggest and that some come with yellow or light orange ones.
Mine have gotten more light orange rather than their initial yellow color. I wonder why the color of their "ears" would change like that but anyway, I guess this clears things up. 8)