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Hi everyone. I just got my first RES a month ago. I named him apples because the first thing he ate was a small peace of apple. In addition the red on the side of the head was apple red and he has three little dots on his head that look like little apples. I know he is a boy because I got him forma pet shop and he was big enough to tell the gender. He has the long claws, narrow head, and the tail is thick. It is funny because when I brought him home they told me he was female . I still love him anyway. Let me tell you a little about him and his setup and how he is. Any suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated.
He is about 4 to 6 inches long. I can tell he was being over feed because his shell looks like it was about to pyramid, poor guy . In addition is belly had a pink tint and the edges of his shell were starting the curl. I got him home and put him in his new tank. I have managed to stop the possible pyramiding and his belly is back to being yellow . However he is shedding right now, shell and skin. The shell is taking some time, but looks great and his skin is only shedding a little bit. He is already turning melanistic, but his shell is shedding to light brown, looks kind of funny. I think it is cut though .
The pet store did not have a place where he could get out of the water completely, he could get out about half way. I have it were he has a lot of room to swim and bask. I do not know the gallons because I set it up were he has more then one tank to move from one to another. His basking is above water were he has two rocks to chose from and some shade if he wants. There is a filter in all the tanks with water and a air pump to move the water around to be cleaned.
His personality is showing though nicely. He loves to go outside from time to time, always with me. He likes to come up to me and let me pet him from time to time. Every so often he lets me take him out to hold and play with him. He no longer bits now that he is getting used to me. He gets partial water changes at least once a week, sometimes more if needed. I give him a bath once a week even though he does not like it much. When I handle him I always clean my hands and areas he has been.
His diet consist of turtle pellets and supplements. I am trying to get him to eat greens, but it is not working . He is fed once a day a small portion, enough to fit in his head. Once a week he gets a different treat that is good for him such as feeder fish. He never gets the same treat twice in one month so he does not get to much. I feed him by hand to build trust. He has never bitten me doing that and if he comes close he does not close his mouth.
Thank you for your time and any help you can give. I love my little Apples and want him to have a good long happy life with me and my family .

Welcome to the forum! Glad Apple is doing well and that you are both enjoying each other's company

Finally! Ate some greens. Yeah.

Awesome to hear

I do not know how good this is. I gave Apples some carrot and he ate it in under two minutes. He nibbled on the lettuce.

Turtles usually like carrots. Sounds like you're doing great.

One thing we can never doubt - turtles love food!!! Some are pickier than others, but it sounds like Apples appreciates what he gets.
Welcome to the forum.

Here is something I would like to share because I thought it was cute.
I have several fake plants in the take with Apples so that he has a place to hide and something to play with. Well he has decided to turn them into a bed. The plant always float because no mater how often I anchor them he releases them. Well he will literal drag them to the bottom of his tank and sleep on them.