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Hello, my name is Alex, I've been reading the forums a lot lately so I thought I'd join up. I received my res for my sixth birthday, and I'll be turning 22 in late January, making Swimmy 16! Just wanted to introduce myself.

Awesome! welcome to the forum Alex = : >

It's a pleasure to be here. How long have you had your turtle(s) And what Are they?

Welcome to the forum!!
After 16 years I am sure you have some fun stories to tell.
Pictures. We love pictures

He's been shedding the past week.

Welcome to the forum! Swimmy is a girl BTW

Because of the nails right? He's only 5 1/2" SCL or so, and I've seen him fan on occasion.

Stubby tail and not melanastic. Can you describe the fanning? A female cannot fan, so it might be a prolapse or a poop attempt.

It's a long (2/3 to 3/4 up the plastron) very black penile shaped appendage protruding from the cloaca. Doesn't happen often, used to when Swimmy was 10 or so, but it is usually very quick out and back in (mostly whilst on his back or frightened somehow). I've only seen it happen once in the past year.

When it first started happening I thought it was poop that couldn't pass, but it was way darker so, scared outta my mind, I googled it and based on descriptions and pics, I assumed it was fanning.

On the subject of melanism, does it happen only to males? If so, does it happen to all males?

P.s. I know the "concave" plastron isn't a reliable factor in sexing aquatic turtles, but the an scutes are both rather indented.

Supposedly it can happen to females but not nearly as quickly. I think my male RES turned when he was about 6 years old. How long is Swimmy?

Swimmy97 wrote:It's a pleasure to be here. How long have you had your turtle(s) And what Are they?

I've had mine for 2 yrs. We got him when he was the size of a quarter from a lady I work with who found him in her pool skimmer. So we named him s"Skimmer"

We thought "he" was a "she" for almost a year and then the claws grew... At first we were like "oh man.. It's a Boy.." but over time we grew accustomed to him being a him..lol

He's currently in a 40 gallon (hes 6 inches) so in a few months he will get his final home. we plan on getting at least a 75 gallon. Had no idea the cost involved when I agreed to take him, but don't regret a single cent I've spent on him. He is spoiled rotten and is the most handsomest turtle in the whole wide world. We tell him that every day too

Swimmy is very pretty I must say. Looks like you take very good care of her. What size tank do you have her in?

steve wrote:How long is Swimmy?

5 1/2" or so.

Into_the_Mystic wrote:
He's currently in a 40 gallon (hes 6 inches) so in a few months he will get his final home. we plan on getting at least a 75 gallon.

I have Swimmy in a 55 gallon. I would get a larger one, but I don't have enough room ( I still live at home). What kind of basking platform do you have for Skimmer?

It's one a friend built for me out of pvc pipe and plastic grating stuff. If you go to the thread that shows basking docks, you'll see mine.