Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: Pre-owned turtle question

[kaysee]

Hi there, I'm a new poster. we aquired pre-owned turtles, I think their redeared sliders because of the red stripe behind their eyes. We didn't realized that the smaller turtle had been attacked by the older one until we brought them home. Apparently, the smaller turtle has no outer skin on it's kneck (totally pink) I'm appauled. The owner really wanted to get them of her hands and my daughters wanted turtles, so it was a win win. However, it looks like the smaller turtle needs help. I can't afford a vet. I can look into seperating the turtles, but what about it's healing process, will the outer skin ever return.

Signed worried :-(

P.S. how is the Poll question utilised best?

[steve]

Hi, since one is injured, you need to keep them separate. I don't know the extent of the injury, so I cannot guess the healing process. Most minor skin injuries require disinfecting the wound, applying an antibiotic and allowing it to dry so it can absorb the medication. Setting up a second habitat can be expensive, much more than a routine vet visit.

If you don't think you are able to treat this turtle yourself, then I would try to find a re-homing organization with staff who can care and rehabilitate this turtle.

[kaysee]

Thank you for your reply. Any suggestions on a re-homing organization or a resonable vet in the New Jersey area?

[steve]

Vet prices can vary, though I hear vets in southern NJ are a bit cheaper than norther NJ. I'd wait for someone in NJ to jump in to answer any question you have about that.


Here are some vet links: www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=370

Here are some rehoming links: www.redearslider.com/links_adoptions_rescues.html

[kaysee]

Thanks so much for the leads!

[iac637]

Call around and ask. I know that our vet charges less to see a RES because it is a more common species of turtle then say our African Sideneck turtles. We had 3RES examined and Meds given to all and one was on 2 meds and it was just over $100. So thats not bad considering a new set up would cost much more then that.

[kaysee]

Great point! I've left a message for a vet, about 40 minutes from our home. Should I try to keep them apart until we see the vet? Maybe keeping one in a dry place every other day? until I get an appointment? I'm not sure how long they can stay out of the water. :?:

[iac637]

They can say a while I would do mornings and afternoons maybe instead of every other day. You could even keep the injured on in a container with just a little water in it what you might want to do is call an emergency vet and let them know that you are waiting for the vet to call you back but what should you do until then. They normally don't mind give info over the phone like that because if they are like our they don't know a ton about turtles anyways but can help you decide what is best for her.. Do you have a picture of her neck?

[marisa]

In the past one of my painteds bit his tank mate on the neck, took off the skin and drew a little blood. I washed the wound with a product call Hibiclens (which I know can be bought in NJ---Eckerd's), let it dry, applied Neosporin and kept him out of the water for a while to let it soak in. If the wound isn't really deep, you might do the same. I did this once a day for several days. If the wound isn't bad (I can't tell from what you wrote), it should close fairly quickly, the pigment returning to normal will take longer.

Keep them separate. Good luck.