General Care Discussion :: One of my RES is Darker than the Others

[pooccito]

I got 4 RES, and recently one of them become very violent on the other, biting them in the rear legs, I decided to separate them, the thing is that the one that I put alone become like more green, is darker than the others and in the middle of the shell there is some decoloration, this RES is like 5" long and we get it like a year ago, I haven't be able to make them an appropiate habitat because I didn't know much of RES care and housing, I got the poor little thing in a baby bathtub, they only eat Nutrafin pellets, nothing else.

I am from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and pet stores here are more limited, so I would like you to give me some advice please.

The 4 RES that I got are:
1 6" long
2 4" long
1 5" long

and about 1 year old of age(the 4" ones are younger).

I will appreciate your advice.

Thanks in advance

[CountryGirl68]

Read the "Sticky" sections in the Feeding and Nutrition and Habitat - Indoor information on proper environment and what to feed.

[missibsu]

How big was your set up when you had them all together? If it was too small, that could have been part of the problem with the aggression. I'm glad that you have separated them.

Like CountryGirl said, be sure to read the stickys in the feeding and nutrition. A balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health. Don't forget the main page with a great deal of basic care information.

[pooccito]

Thanks for your replies.

But I need help, now the turtle that is alone, the darker one, is inside the shell all the time, like depress, and there is decoloration at the shell's edge and the center.

Should I take it to a vet?

Please help me, maybe my res is dying.

Thanks.

[SpotsMama]

Is there any way you could show us a picture of the turtle with the questionable shell? It's very hard to say what the problem might be without actually seeing it. The picture should be of the shell when it's dry. It's harder to tell about a wet shell.

It's very possible, though, that if the habitat has been problematic that he could be having some health problems as a result.

I'm pretty new to all this myself but some of the other people on the forum may be able to give you guidance. I think they will want to see a picture, and they'll want to know if the shell is soft or slimy or smelly as well.

[pooccito]

These are the other ones, they are healthy i believe


This is the darkes one:










It's shell is slimy and is mildly stinky.

[marisa]

I wouldn't worry about the overall darker color. The slimy feeling on the shell is likely a film of bacteria that should be wiped off with a soft clean cloth. He shouldn't really smell, and probably does so because his habitat isn't the best (the slime is probably due to that as well). If he's in a bathtub, he doesn't sound like he has a basking area with proper lighting. If you're in Honduras, I'm imagining sunlight---can you take him outside for some direct sunlight on a regular basis?

What you perceive as depression could just be the change of environment and his getting used to it (although it doesn't sound like it's very stimulating for him).

I'm not sure about those white areas down the back. Could he possibly have somehow scraped himself down the back? Where is the discoloration at the shell's edge? In the last photo, the white spot looks like it's part of the photo.

Doe the edges of the scutes with the white areas look like they're lifting at all? It looks like, with basking under proper lighting, he may do some shedding.