Urgent Care

I think you are a smart, well spoken 15 year old! The only question I can answer is that no, you shouldn't pick at their shells.
I know that when I first got my turtle he was in really bad shape, and his shell has changed dramatically now that he is getting better care. So I think your turtles will improve!

Hopefully my turtles' conditions can improve as much as yours did

You don't have a UVB or basking light for them? You should buy that for them. Also try to raise the water level up a little bit more since you only have 37 gallons in a 53 gallon tank.

I raised my tank to over 40 gallons (i just don't want them to fall off the edge)
Doesn't natural sunlight include UVB rays? Where can I buy a UVB light?

If they get natural light they don't need a UVB, natural light is better for them.

For feeding- if you have one that is eating all the food you can feed them separately to be certain they are all getting the same amount of food, and put the biggest one on a diet. Get a separate container just for feeding. It might take them a little while to get used to it, just be patient. And I would do some tough love and withhold the worms and feed only pellets and greens. They'll take to it eventually. Adults should be eating mostly pellets and greens. And- if you can find it get some cuddlebone- it's sold for birds but is good for turtles if you take the backing off. It's calcium. It'll help their shells.

If you're concerned about them escaping over the edge you could make a cover, or even an ATBA for them. Then you could fill the container up as much as it will hold. The more water they have the better.

Yeah if you have the time to take them outside everyday for a hour then you don' need a UVB but if you buy a UVB you won't have worry about taking him outside everyday.

Ranger- i think the turtles live outside on a balcony. If that's true, they should have a thermometer to watch the water temp to see how hot it gets and if the temp is stable. Look for a sturdy one that won't break and put glass shards in the tank. If they're going to stay outside you can't really control the temp but it would be good to know.

Also,
At what age do RES stop growing? - never, but the growth slows more and more the older they get
If RES are still growing, can they grow out of a deformed shell? - Somewhat. Their shells can improve with a good healthy shed but some damage may be permanent or take several sheds to clear.
How much should they bask in the sun on a daily basis? - Varies. To stimulate basking, make a basking area that's big enough for the turtles to get completely out of the water and dry off and it helps if the air is 10degrees hotter than the water. But being outside that's hard to control.
Is it OK to peel scutes off that are about to shed? - No, if they're not ready you can injure the underlaying bone. You can scrub the shell with a clean toothbrush/other soft brush and some hydrogen peroxide, I believe, to loosen them if they are stuck on with algae. Having said that, some people report having VERY GENTLY given them a tiny tug, and leaving them if it doesn't pop off, but never pulling on them because it could expose bone that is then open to possible infection.

Sorry if my writing seems rambly or unclear, I'm sleeeeepy and my grammer tends to suffer when i'm tired.

Urgent Care :: RES

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