We ended up with someone's discarded pet chicken turtle (in too small aquarium in trash pile). At least, we believe that it's a chicken turtle, if someone could make a positive id, that would be helpful.
Approximately 6" long, yellow plastron, really long neck, picture below. Likely female (short claws, flat plastron).
Lethargic when we got it, food, clean water and a light and she started acting more like a turtle should.
It's now in a spare 55 gallon tank at our house with a make shift egg crate & pvc pipe island, but we need to know where to go from here.
Light recommendation? (right now we're using the old fish tank lights and a table lamp because that was what was handy and we KNOW its not right)
How soon will we need to increase the tank size? to what? (basically what does she need at full adult size and is it big enough to add a similar size friend? Would it even want another turtle living with it? Are there fish or other critters it can live with without eating them? (guessing no)
Food? How much? How often? Right now, it will only eat live fish. Won't touch anything resembling a plant and has ignored pellets a friend brought over. Didn't eat until we got feeder fish and it will eat as many as it can catch. Will a turtle overeat?
Shell has algae on it, is it safe to clean it off? soft toothbrush?
Shell also seems to be separating? Is it shedding scutes or is this another issue?
What am I forgetting that's important to keep her healthy?
Thanks for any help and insight.
