Urgent Care :: Took over care of a turtle.

[Love of Animals]

How's she doing? Still improving?

[richieboy]

Yeah, totally. Very alert. I notice she keeps a regular basking habbit. Usually I catch her when I come home. Then she stays in the water till bedtime. She seems to be getting a lot more comfortable with me. My cousin was over and she was asking me questions like can touch it's head? And I was like not really she'll run so I put my finger by her and she didn't run. I was like whoa okay maybe not. And she swims up to me if I'm moving something in the tank.

[Miss Tee]

After a few months of reading this forum's messages, I am convinced that 90% of healing has to do with warm water (heater) and basking.

[richieboy]

I agree. Me and my turtle live in a room that used to be a garage. So if you open my door, the garage door is a few feet away. it's cold out still, so if you leave my door open there's a cool draft coming in. I bought a second fixture to put a ceramic heating element in. At the moment it just has a regular house bulb. So hopefully when I get that it will keep the air above the tank warmer. I was at work today and someone came in my room and left the door open for hours. It wasn't too cold out today so it wasn't really chilly at all but I think that could have been a problem if it was. I was pissed. After all the time effort and money and not to mention I've grown a little attatched. I'd hate to see her in pain again.

[bradmeisel]

I'm glad to see she's feling better. Temperature is very important. A chill can give her a respiratory infection which seems to be the leading killer of RES'. Good luck and I wish you and your turtle the best.

[richieboy]

Thanks. Damn I just changed the water... It's a pain changing 40 gallons every couple of days.. I'm relaxing and I hear a lotta splashing. I think nothing of it. I look over and she took a major crap. Turtle also has a habit of chewing it up and spitting it back out. Turds are EVERYWHERE. I fed her hours ago too. Ugh, I need that filter now. But she seems all better, tomorrow is the last day for antibiotics. I have quite a bit left too. I wonder if someone else can use it. I know there's quite a few users in countries where they can't find vets...

[Love of Animals]

Keep it in case she needs a second round. Hopefully not though. When are you going to be able to get the filter and what one did you decide on?

[richieboy]

Friday I will place an order for a Rena XP3. Just have think of a way to elevate my tank. I had an old dresser, that's gone though.

[Love of Animals]

Look on line for aquarium stands. When I bought my 55 gallon at petco I bought a metal stand with it for about $60.00. When you place your order for the xp3 order extra filter media with it. It doesn't come with enough, it comes with a couple of stars. The filter media is for the biological part of the filter and is important. You don't have to get rena brand. I bought two boxes of ceramic rings at Petco. Check out the prices for the filter at different sites to get the best deal. I got mine through Amazon. If you need some tips when setting it up just PM me. Good Luck!

PS - The filter needs to be 24 in below the water line. Look in the Big Pond gallery under Rocky's new ATBA and you'll see my set up.

[richieboy]

Okay I just placed my order at Big Al's. Ebay looked cheaper but upon seeing the shipping charges is not! I got an extra thing of bio stars, I think that's all I need extra to get going. Hopefully I'll only have to do one more water change till it arrives..

[Love of Animals]

yeah, good for you. If you need help let me know. The directions are pretty good though. Just one thing put the hose ends in very hot water before you attach them. That will make them more pliable.

[richieboy]

Thank you thank you. Can't wait to get it set up. BTW I found a nice piece of furniture to set my tank on.

[richieboy]

Once again thanks everyone for helping me through my trials and tribulations. Here are some pictures of Ms Boom!











Sorry, cheap Blackberry cam..

[steve]

She's looking good! Keep up the good work

[richieboy]

Just installed my filter. It's actually nice and quiet. So how long does it take to establish, a month? Should I still be scooping out the doodie or not? I bought her a new dock, she seemed a little freaked out at first but hopefully she'll get used to it.

*Update, just caught her basking! I bought a new dock and realized it's the ZooMed floating ramp dock with suction cups... Hopefully she doesn't try to eat it. She's older and I think knows what's food. We'll see.. It does let me raise the water to about 3 quarters now. Once I create a nice barrier out of the acrylic I snatched from work I'll be able to fill about 90%. Now all I need is a little hiding place/shallow resting area. Currently I left the legs to my old dock cuz that's where she usually sleeps and thought she appreciate that . Filter is nice and quiet, the sound it gives sounds like one of those tranquil fountains. So stoked she finally has all the necessities. Yeahhhh!