General Care Discussion :: Sheldon Ate His Basking Platform Again

[cutepanda86]

Sheldon ate a portion of his basking platform again and now he has pooed mostly those pieces and partially digested pellets. He's turning his nose up at lettuce and I saw a little pink on the underside of his shell. I'm calling the Vet tomorrow. What should I do now?

[steve]

What part is pink? A little is usually normal. I'd suggest you switch to another platform. Acrylic, tile, or cork bark will do.

[cutepanda86]

There is a little pink on the underside of his belly on three plates near the edge. I have a new platform but what about him not eating?

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/turtle_bank.php I got him one of these because that was all the pet store had in a pinch. Can I build him one out of acrylic? How do I get one of those?

[cutepanda86]

I was just reading up on the dock I purchased - I thought I would need a bigger one as Sheldon is a little too big for the one I was able to get and everyone is saying it doesn't work for big turtles. Now I really don't know what to do for something inside his tank.

[steve]

Can you post a picture of the pinkness? How long has it been since eating? Could just be a little upset (and how much was eaten?), have you tried any treats?

[cutepanda86]

I can post a picture of the pinkness when I get home. As for the eating - he ate pellets on Friday but refused lettuce. I gave him a shrimp ball on Saturday which he scarfed. The mostly dock part poo has me worried that maybe not all of it is out and that is why he doesn't want to eat or anything.

I'm looking into making a basking spot with egg crate that would sit inside the tank.

[cutepanda86]

Bottom of shell #1

Bottom of shell #2

Are these files good enough?

[steve]

I wouldn't worry about not eating lettuce once in awhile. Were there noticeably large pieces missing? The plastron looks fine, I'm not seeing any pink.

[cutepanda86]

No but when he pooped it was mostly basking platform chunks - it was like he pooed a gallon worth and it was all little pieces and undigested pellets

[cutepanda86]

As far as not eating lettuce - it's been a week and he's completely turning his nose up at it

[steve]

Have you tried a veggie clip?

The pooping sounds OK, it doesn't seem like there are any blockages.

[cutepanda86]

The veggie clips keep breaking.

It doesn't seem like there would be but I'm worried that he just doesn't seem to be himself. He's just not Sheldon. I mean he just kind of lethargic.

[steve]

Yea, I worry about them too. Did this all start after eating the dock?

[cutepanda86]

Yes it did. He didn't seem funny - I mean he wasn't eating lettuce back on Tuesday but I was trying a new lettuce and I figured he didn't like it. But then I found that large mess this morning and his lethargy and I just don't know what to do.

I've changed the water, threw out his old basking platform, tried that new one (I returned it), and now tomorrow, I'm going to build him one that he won't try to eat with egg crate.

[steve]

Did you get a chance to contact the vet?