redearslider.com

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?

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

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.

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

Yes, pink. The Q-tip turns pink.

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.

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?

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

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?

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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