General Care Discussion :: Found a baby turtle today!

[SmileyJingles]

I was at a pond today and found a baby turtle at the waters edge. I was so excited about catching it that I tripped over some roots and fell. But my prized baby turtle was ok!

The little guy/gal is about the size of a qurter and is so cute! I think it's a slider but it doesn't have a red ear. Are RES babies born/hatched with red ears?

He/she is in a 5 1/2 gal with a smooth rock(It can climb on it.) and about 2 1/2 inches of water. I will be ordering a uvb light for it, and putting a basking light on it.

I already have a female RES and I know about the basic care.

Got any tips for me on the little guy/gal's care?

Amy

[iac637]

let it go back at the pond and adopt one from somewhere else

[industrial_girl_2000]

Unfortunately, iac637 is right in saying to let it go where you found it. It really is the best for this little guy. There are a lot of unwanted turtles out there that have been in captivity for too long & can no longer go back into the wild. When people adopt the baby turtles, they think they will stay small forever (or just grow as big as the tank will allow), but that isn't the case. The babies will continue to grow no matter how big the tank is and then when the turtle gets too big & is no longer "cute", they let it go in the wild which can be really bad for the turtle.

So if you can, adopt an unwanted one. The turtle I have was 6" long when I got her (almost an adult). Not sure why someone brought her to the pet store but someone dropped her off at the store when she got too big. Maybe you can adopt an older turtle that someone doesn't want? You would be doing them a favor! They need good homes.

Just know also that we are a very supportive group of people on this board....we're not trying to be mean or anything. We just want what is best for the turtles in the world!

[myrtle1123]

I recenly was up north and some little kids found a baby turtle. It was in a little pink pail with about an inch of water. I took it and picked it up and was about a size of a quarter. I'm pretty sure it was a baby painted turtle. He was so cute.
We let his go in the lake and crossed our fingers that he would be alright. I put him right on the water edge.
Maybe about an hour later my friends little brother came up to me and said that something was attacking it was floating upside down. So he picked it up and flipped it over and it started moving again and trying to crawl out of his hands.
So he brought it to a new place and he said that it just swam away.

I know its tough seeing the liitle guys go because you want them to be alright and safe, but its really best to let them in their natural environment.

Like what idustrial_girl said we just want the best for the turtle and so do you! So it would be best to let the turtle go.

[iac637]

You can still get a baby turtle from a store so you will still have a cute baby turtle and it will be one that couldn't survive in the wild

[SmileyJingles]

Thanks for all the opinions and advice on letting him go. I know everyone here cares a lot about turtles, that's why I came to this form. But I plan on keeping him. I've always wanted a tiny baby turtle.

I've already rescued one turtle. A coworker was keeping Terri in a bath tub with no lights or a heater and very little water. When I got her she couldn't swim. I had to bring her up for air for about an hour. She was about five inches when I got her, now she's aleast eight inches. Now she's a very happy and healthy turtle with a long life ahead of her. I like the idea of a pet living 50 years! And I know how big they can get. I've held a 12 inch RES before. They can get HUGE!

What will is the best thing to feed him/her at this age?
How much water does he/she need? It's not swiming to well right now.

We have cave crickets under the house and the babies gather on the door, would they be ok as part of it's diet?

The little one's name is now Trip, becuse I tripped right after catching him/her and fell.


Anyone know what kind of turtle he/she is? Doesn't have a red ear.

How old do you think he/she is?



Terri




Terri's new tank.

[Twoster]

"I've already rescued one turtle. A coworker was keeping Terri in a bath tub with no lights or a heater and very little water. When I got her she couldn't swim. I had to bring her up for air for about an hour. She was about five inches when I got her, now she's aleast eight inches."

you did rescue that turtle, but this new hatchling, not so much..

i say this because you said:

"What will is the best thing to feed him/her at this age?
How much water does he/she need? It's not swiming to well right now. "

.. before you took it out of its home, no one had to worry or ask these questions..it was just nature doing its thing. and we arent trying to be mean, or break your heart or whatever...but it sounds like the hatchling was doing fine in its original habitat. not to mention, wild animals of any sort just shouldnt be removed from their habitats in attemts to force them to change into captive "pets". thats why us humans have "pet" stores...lol

but best of luck to you and the baby! ..let us know how that goes..

peace=)

[camee1991]

SmileyJingles:
Your baby looks like a "painted turtle". They are almost just like RES but have a yellow or red marking stripes on the limbs and head and also have a darker shell with a red or yellow stripe around the bottom of the top shell. Also the shell will be flatter than a RES.
(Yours matches that description pretty well with yellow on limbs and red on bottom of the top shell.)

I agree you should have left it be....but since you are gonna keep it I would recommend that you feed it a mixture of crickets, baby shrimp, baby krill and Reptomin baby sticks. Put some lettuce (smaller pieces) in tank daily just to get it used to them. Im sure it wont eat them yet..but better than it NEVER want to eat them later...

I would just put enough water in the area so he can "right" himself if tipped over (4"?); see how it swims and gradually increase the water inch by inch as it grows stronger.

You need a good filter also. The bigger the better. (So you dont have to upgrade alot later)

Good Luck! And yes, it is awefully cute!

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I think you did a bad thing (no offense) no wild animal should be taken from it's natural habitat..The turtle is a wild turtle and it was probably doing fine before you jumped in and decided to keep it. It's realy not fair to the turtle and it is selfish, and it put's alot of stress on the little guy. You can easily find a painted turtle for 15$ or even better, adoption from any breeder or turtle rescue org.

But hey, we cant stop you..

[RunninWideOpen]

hey myrtle- did you check the thing that shows where the turtles natural habitats are? I didn't think they could survive in the wild in canada?


hey jingles - i agree it should have been left in the wild, BUT, at least if you are taking a wild turtle it is a very recent hatchling and didn't get TOO used to being wild. just know that wild turtles often don't make as good of pets. they won't get as used to you and friendly with you as if you got a captive bred turtle.

[SmileyJingles]

How do I find a breeder? And can I get one this small? IF I did let the little one go I wouldn't take it to the same place I found it. It's to busy.

[RunninWideOpen]

Yes, you can find them that small. I just got 2 baby box turtles at 1 1/4", they're a month old. Captive bred.

There are a ton of people on here that can help you find them, but I'm not really one of them. I had a bunch of people helping me. I found my boxies on kingsnake.com in the classified section. You can search there and find a breeder in your area.

Also, look up turtle and reptile rescue places in Georgia. They often have babies. I did that for CA and I was amazed at what I came up with. I didn't know they existed.

I'm glad that you're considering it. I think you'll both be happier that way

[SmileyJingles]

I'd rather have a captive bred one if I can find one that small. I'll keep an open mind on it and see what I can find. Georgia is bad about not having breeders. Lol!

The little one is doing good. He/she checks things out then has to rest, then he/she off again! And I just saw him/her eat a piece of Reptomin! If I can find one like him/her I would be open to it.

[SpotsMama]

That's very good of you to be open to the possibility of releasing the wild one somewhere safe and getting a captive bred one instead. That's the right thing to do. But I do understand your reluctance to let the wild one go - he is so adorable. But if you get a little captive bred one, he or she will be adorable too. Several people on here have painted turtles and they are all really beautiful.

[jenaero]

You need to let him go where you found him. He wasn't injured, he wasn't ill, and there really is no excuse to keep him when they are so readily available in the pet trade.