Urgent Care :: Pink Stuff.

[iris]

I've had my turtle for over a month now, and recently, I've noticed pink gooey stuff stuck on his skin. Especially where his limbs start. I used a Q-tip and brushed it off. Is this something to be worried about?

[marisa]

Does it come back? Can you post a pic of it?

[iris]

It didn't come back for his skin, but when I rubbed his shell with a Q-tip, it turned a pink colour. I can take a picture of the Q-tip..but, there's nothing on my turtle now.

[steve]

Is there any noticeable slime, for example if you wipe his shell, does it have a color to it?

[iris]

Yes, pink. The Q-tip turns pink.

[marisa]

How often have you changed the water and cleaned the tank in the month you've had him? It sounds like some sort of build-up from unclean water.

[iris]

I try to change it every 2-3 days. I'm not sure if it's because he takes dust and dirt into the water. Because sometimes I let him roam around on the carpet. Should I not? But the pink stuff I rubbed off isn't coming back. So, maybe I shouldn't have to worry?

[wetchikn]

I am going out on a limb here but I have encountered pink algae in my pool....I know apples and oranges just trying to think outside the box so to speak

[iris]

Do you mean feeding him apples and oranges? I don't feed him oranges, but I do feed him apples. Maybe I should feed him in another tank or something?

[CountryGirl68]

I think wetchikn was just using the expression "apples and oranges" - meaning the difference when comparing apples to oranges.

Pink algae is actually a bacteria, not really algae but it can show up in water, usually in ponds.

I'd keep an eye on him to see if the pink stuff comes back.

[iris]

Aha..right. Thanks, CountryGirl. Do you know if they sell heaters at Wal-mart? Or can I get them at a petstore? Like PJ's.

[CountryGirl68]

They should have heaters at Walmart in the fish section. But any other pet store would have them.

[iris]

And how much are they exactly? Also, I have a question. If RES live in the wild, their water wouldn't be as warm as heated water would be, right. So why must they be in such warm water when they're captive?

[missibsu]

Turtles in the wild also hibernate. Captive turtles don't have the proper kind of set up to hibernate. (Mostly layers of mud and guck)

I want to think walmarts heaters were around 10-15 bucks. I bought one as my first heater and I hated it. The temp adjustment knob just says high med low. I was forever fighting with it to maintain the temp in my tank. The more water I got, the harder it was.

[iris]

Are petstore heaters a lot easier to handle? Around how much are they?