Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: hello......im new...

[jessie]

what should i do....and why he becomes like that?

[TinySlider2]

i just put them in a container..

So you don't have a tank for them? Is the container the one with the palm tree in it?

[jenaero]

That's from overfeeding, lack of uvb and possibly lack of heat, lack of proper nutrition..basically not being cared for properly.

Please describe his setup.

[cam722]

That poor baby.... I've never seen a turtle look that bad..

[marisa]

That looks like metabolic bone disease to me. How long have you had this turtle. What has/is the turtle being fed? Does the other turtle look the same?

[jessie]

That's from overfeeding, lack of uvb and possibly lack of heat, lack of proper nutrition..basically not being cared for properly.

Please describe his setup.

i dont think he is lack of uvb and bla bla bla......
because the other one is normal....
i bought this one(the one in the pic)later than the normal one....and now the abnormal one is bigger.....
i used to use the container with palm tree one...but they get bigger and bigger so i change to another larger container....

[cam722]

What size container do you currently have your turtles in? Do they have the proper lighting, filter, water/basking temps, a basking area.. and approximately 10 gallons of water for every inch of shell length (w/o the curve)? Do you offer your turtles some sort of calcium supplement for healthy bone/shell growth?

Did that turtle come to you in that way or is it just since it's been in your care that it's happened? Just trying to figure out what's going on and what caused that poor turtles shell to deform the way it is. btw, there is nothing you can do (as least to my knowledge) to correct the damage that has been done. But, you CAN prevent it from getting worse and prevent the other turtle from getting like that.

[jessie]

the container is not big....but enough for them to move around......actually i didnt know a tortoise must put in a tank or a container with so much water....until i surf the internet a few days ago.....my friend teach me to put some water in the container but the water level is not over his head or shell....and sometimes i take them to the garden to expose to sunlight....is that tortoise must live in that way no matter which country he is in????
im in malaysia.....

[cam722]

I notice you call a RES a tortoise.. here in the US there is a difference between a turtle and a tortoise. RES are aquatic turtles, which means they live in and around water. The water level at a MINIMUM should be 1.5 times their shell length I believe. It is better to make it even deeper if you can. It is also suggested that they have 10 gallons of living space for each inch of straight shell length. They need more than "enough room to move around". They live in ponds and lakes in their natural habitat. Putting them in a too small container would be like forcing you to live in a small room or closet. You could survive but you'd not be very happy or healthy.

Yes an RES will live in the same environment no matter what country they live in... as I said, they are aquatic turtles. They are NOT native to Malaysia therefore you have to mimic their natural environment. It would be like our taking an animal from your country and forcing it to adapt to the cold weather. It is good to take them outside for natural sunlight. Since you live in a warm country you can do that, those of us that live in a climate that changes with the seasons must find a way to give sunlight by artifical means.. which would be the UVB light.

Also, RES need to eat in water. They do not have saliva and their tongue does not move like most animals. If they aren't in enough water, they won't be able to eat.. and well if they don't eat, they starve and die

The lack of any or all of these things could have been what contributed to your turtles shell problem.. I hope this makes sense to you and that we've been some help

[jenaero]

Bla, bla, bla? That's nice.

[jessie]

sorry.....i just want to type faster....i didnt mean to make you feel uncomfortable....just sorry....

[jessie]

erm.....sorry....another question here....
if i want to give them fruits....such as banana and papaya...
should i cut them into small pieces or just put the whole thing there????

[jenaero]

Oh, I thought you meant what I was saying was not useful/true. Maybe using 'etc' instead of 'blah' would be better so no one misunderstands it. Sorry about that.

Fruits are ok for an occasional treat, about once a month, no more. When I feed them banana, I do it in a separate container because it leaves an oily film all over everything. Not sure about papaya but it may do the same. Just cut it up in manageable pieces.

[jessie]

thanks.......how about vegetables?

[ellman605]

Veggies are an everyday need for turtles, you should feed pellets enough to fit inside their head if it were hollow every other day, and veggies every day.

i just looked at that picture and i cringed, its just...horrible....why dont you take the turtle to a vet??? He'll be able to do anything, and tell you what you need...if your dog had his back all lumpy, would you not take him to the vet?