I always end up joining these types of things and then totally forgetting they exist so I'm hoping that doesn't happen with this one.
We recently adopted the "outcast", my sister's RES that she had left at my parents home when she turned 18 and decided to scream freedom at the top of her lungs and run out the front door (laugh is on her now since she has a three month old daughter which means no freedom once again lol).
Any who, my husbands birthday was this last week and joking around my parents offered him the urtle, well now urtle is sitting on the kitchen bar. She came to us in a tank way to small (about ten gallons), we were told she never really basked (my first thought was great, I'm getting an urtle with so many shell problems, its not even funny) but we took it on (we are horrible suckers for the outcast animal).
So urtle that will not bask let us put you in a larger tank which was step one, for now she is in a 45 gallon until we can find a good spot for a larger tank in the house. Step two, lets get you an actual light (the one that had been on her was not emitting any warmth what so ever so I'm guessing it had just been a normal house bulb. So new bulb, and lamp. Next basking area, the platform she had was way to small for how large she is so in a pinch we found a magnetic one until we can decide how we want to build one out for her. The husband went on a spoiling spree found some live plants, a couple guppies and some snails. I love the filter we found for the tank (it's hidden in amongst a stone rock wall).
But I am happy to report that the "creature from the black lagoon" as my parents referred to her as is officially on top of her basking spot, eyes closed and sunning herself. I'm down to one poor guppy that is saving itself by hiding in the plants (which of course urtle likes attacking and chewing on), she is still a very angry hissing turtle but she seems to be at least happy and content with her new accommodations. My main place I wanted to start was tank size and get her out of the water more.
So that's my long confusing introduction of myself and Miss Hiss A Lot (ok ok, her names is suppose to be Miss Pacman but the husband has also been calling her princess, can you tell he is a bit smitten by her?) My next step with her I think is getting that shell dried out a bit more and see if there is any damage from not basking for so many years when she was at my parents home (she is roughly 1-2 years old). But right this very moment she is up underneath her light, one leg up in the air, eyes closed (until I make a noise) and content and that was a major accomplishment that I am thrilled about.
best I could get, sorry if it eats anyone's computer.
