General Care Discussion :: Sheldon is Tearing up the Tank

[cutepanda86]

I need some advice.

Today when I got home, Sheldon had detached his heater from the tank wall along with the filter attachments. Needless to say, I have no idea how long the filter was sucking air. I yelled at him, because it seemed like the thing to do at the time, and quickly shut the filter off. I put everything back together and luckily the filter turned back on.

Less than 2 hours later, I heard noises and went to check it out. He had done it again. This time it took a lot of work to get the filter running again. How can I go to work tomorrow with him doing this? Why is he doing this?

What do I do?

[dumbork14]

HAHAHAHAHA . SORRY, I know, I shouldn't have laughed, but "I yelled at him, because it seemed like the thing to do at the time," cracked me up. I used to do that all the time when Badumbs removes her thermometer and what-nots on her tank.

Is there any way to secure the filter so that even when he tries to remove it, it won't budge?

[CactusJohn5]

Sadly, turtles are destructive by nature.

It is rumored that turtles are more destructive when they are "unhappy" with something usually a recent change or they have "outgrown" there current set up?

[xcristina]

Is Sheldon beginning to shed lately? I noticed that Bobo does that when she tries to scratch her back on everything in the tank, she even tries to get into the narrowest places and just scratches for minutes or until the suction cups fail She's shedding at the moment, and I found the tank devastated twice so far, but the next day she usually calms down.
Good luck!

[cutepanda86]

HAHAHAHAHA . SORRY, I know, I shouldn't have laughed, but "I yelled at him, because it seemed like the thing to do at the time," cracked me up. I used to do that all the time when Badumbs removes her thermometer and what-nots on her tank.

Is there any way to secure the filter so that even when he tries to remove it, it won't budge?

It's ok to laugh. I think if I hadn't been so pissed off I probably would have laughed too. Well right now the intake for the filter is held to the side of the tank with suction cups. I don't know of any other way to do it. Any suggestions?

Sadly, turtles are destructive by nature.

It is rumored that turtles are more destructive when they are "unhappy" with something usually a recent change or they have "outgrown" there current set up?

Yes, I have noticed this first hand with his old tank. I don't see how he would have outgrown his 40 gallon tank in the less than 3 months he's been in it. Although I did make a change in the surroundings of the room he's in. I added curtains so it's darker now longer than usual. Would that matter?

Is Sheldon beginning to shed lately? I noticed that Bobo does that when she tries to scratch her back on everything in the tank, she even tries to get into the narrowest places and just scratches for minutes or until the suction cups fail She's shedding at the moment, and I found the tank devastated twice so far, but the next day she usually calms down.
Good luck!

Sheldon is working his way there. He hasn't popped any scutes yet but I'm wondering if he's close - the scutes on the top part of his shell are getting smaller - how long does the process take because it seems to be dragging on forever. I fed him last night after the destruction and this morning he was looking for food. I'm not underfeeding - he hasn't lost any weight, in fact the vet was surprised when I saw her last at how much he had grown - he had a fungus problem that took a better part of a year to get rid of - but yet there he is looking for food. I know they beg and I don't want to get into that kind of a scenario but if I feed him any more food I worry that he'll get fat.

Thanks guys for listening and being so helpful!

[dumbork14]

Hmm. have you tried following the steps in this thread? viewtopic.php?f=6&t=26987&p=263765&hilit=secure%2C+filter%2C+tube#p263765
hope this worked out for you. ) good luck!

[xcristina]

Sheldon is working his way there. He hasn't popped any scutes yet but I'm wondering if he's close - the scutes on the top part of his shell are getting smaller - how long does the process take because it seems to be dragging on forever.

Well, from my experience, it usually takes a few months. Bobo shed her scutes three times since I have her. The first time was a couple months after she came in (change of environment) - it was very fast as she was growing quickly at the time (ok, ok, I was overfeeding ). The second year she didn't shed at all, she wasn't even basking for many many months, luckily, it didn't affect her much as I fed her pellets with vitamin D3, but her shell looked awful... She did shed last year, at last! but it was a very very slow process that drove both me and her nuts. It was last year that I began taking her out in the sun, and I think that helped a bunch. She's shedding again, it began a couple months ago. So, you just have to be patient, especially if he's had a rough time...

[cutepanda86]

Hmm. have you tried following the steps in this thread? viewtopic.php?f=6&t=26987&p=263765&hilit=secure%2C+filter%2C+tube#p263765
hope this worked out for you. ) good luck!

I could use extra suction cups. I think I have a few because I ordered extra just in case. That might do the trick. Otherwise, I may have to glue the tube pieces together, like they suggest. This was the first time Sheldon had done something like that so I'm glad you pointed me in that direction! Thanks!

Well, from my experience, it usually takes a few months. Bobo shed her scutes three times since I have her. The first time was a couple months after she came in (change of environment) - it was very fast as she was growing quickly at the time (ok, ok, I was overfeeding ). The second year she didn't shed at all, she wasn't even basking for many many months, luckily, it didn't affect her much as I fed her pellets with vitamin D3, but her shell looked awful... She did shed last year, at last! but it was a very very slow process that drove both me and her nuts. It was last year that I began taking her out in the sun, and I think that helped a bunch. She's shedding again, it began a couple months ago. So, you just have to be patient, especially if he's had a rough time...

Well then it could be the fact that the fungus delayed everything. I've only had Sheldon for a little while - it'll be 2 years in February - and he spent at least 6 to 8 months dealing with a stubborn shell fungus the pet store had been ignoring for God knows how long before I bought him. Perhaps he is going insane considering how long it is taking. I appreciate your help with the shedding stuff. I mean we're both at the end of our ropes. lol

[steve]

What model filter do you have?

[devilduck]

My turtle Fred, has been randomly attaching the same resin log I have in his tank for the better part of a decade. It looks like he thinks it's a rival for some reason and flares and bites it.

[cutepanda86]

I have an old Rena XP3 Steve.

Devilduck, Sheldon has been doing that to his basking platform. If found chunks missing again. The vet says as long as he's pooping I shouldn't be too worried. lol

[steve]

My male RES bit his resin platform so much that he chipped his beak on it. Now he goes after his own claws and he does this each night.

I have 2 old XP3's running as well. The intake pipe sections have developed hairline cracks but still hold, so you might want to inspect them during their next cleaning.

So solutions… you can make a new intake or glue it (as described in the link ). I also mentioned about getting some tubing and using it as a sleeve for the intake. I'm not sure how it'll work but it's an ideas I've had since way back.

[cutepanda86]

Good grief Steve. I hope Sheldon doesn't do that.

I saw the link and the first thing I did was to add the extra suctions cups. The next trick is probably the glue as the tube pieces were cracked when I got it (Penelope sent the filter to me). Thanks!

[steve]

Ah cool! (And yay Penelope!) Just a heads up, you can buy new tube sections (Inlet Pipe Extension) from Planet Rena but they sent me the part from the Rena SmartFilter instead. Its very similar pipe but doesn't have a snug fit so its a bit loose and I decided not to use it.

[cutepanda86]

Very cool. I may call the guy I dealt with last time. He helped me get a new O-ring and some other pieces that the filter needed. Might be better than the existing one and trying to glue it. Thanks for the heads up.