Cute little guy! My first FRT!
- Thread starter michael
- Start date
Mine have always enjoyed sliced kiwi fruit, earthworm sticks, frozen peas, algae wafers, fresh anacharis plants, shrimp pellets, apple slices, and reptomin. I also keep Dr Turtles sulfa blocks in the tanks to ward off shell infections. Their tanks are light brackish with aragonite and limestone to keep the water high alkaline. I also have crushed oyster shell and cuttlebone in the sump as a calcium source for shell development. The tanks receive a few hours of sunlight to a third of the tanks as a vitamin D source.
After my FRTs hit about 1 1/2 years old, they started fighting with each other. I have all of them separated out now since losing a female to a fight that resulted in her lower jaw being torn off. At this age it's also a good idea to keep them away from your fish. Mine all have attacked and killed fish and actively hunt down shiners as food now.
After my FRTs hit about 1 1/2 years old, they started fighting with each other. I have all of them separated out now since losing a female to a fight that resulted in her lower jaw being torn off. At this age it's also a good idea to keep them away from your fish. Mine all have attacked and killed fish and actively hunt down shiners as food now.
Thanks oddball for the great info! I do have the tank higher in ph 7.8 or so and have some salt in the water to fend off any possible infection. i am going to start to try and vary his diet with some fruits and veggies. If i say the turtle sulfa blocks I'll get them too. As for fish he is just with 3 small dats and little catfish that are always hiding.
I think they are expensive no matter where you go unless you have a caring person just trying to keep it in a good home and isn't worrying as much about the $$$. Thats how I'd feel about having to get rid of such an exotic animal.
Juvy frts are also susceptible to fungus on the shell which could be deadly to the animal. A quick and reliable remedy ive used in the past is to coat the affected area with iodine ( the one you use for cuts and wounds ) , apply on a clean dry shell and let the iodine dry for 20-30 minutes. You can then put the turtle back in the water.. repeat for a few days.
Oddball is right on the money with the diet. Please feed high fiber low-protein diet to avoid shell curl.
Oddball is right on the money with the diet. Please feed high fiber low-protein diet to avoid shell curl.
Use a UV light on your filter and you will not have problem with fungus. FRT can not take vitamin D from light, You must make sure that the diet that you feed them have vitamin D3 in them. Salt at 4LB per 100G will also kill any fungus and the FRT's do fine with that.
edotero said:
From Carettochelys.com:
- Light system - Even though Carettochelys does not bask, it still needs either day light (applies for outdoor setups) or a full-spectrum light (applies for indoor setups). When I write 'Full Spectrum', I mean all the wavelengths, so do not get cheated for there are many products who's manufacturers claim they produce full spectrum light while they do not. The light is required in order to acquire vitamin D3 that is needed for utilizing Calcium, an essential mineral for the skeleton, carapace and plastron.
I just verifed with Scott Thomson, here is his email reply.
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Hi,
They do not need uvb and uvc to synthesise D3, however they must have a good dietry source. All turtles need full spectrum light for general health and well being. Skin condition and a proper cycle of lighting for day night.
So it is true they do not need it for D3, but they do need good lighting for other reasons.
Cheers, Scott
Scott Thomson
Adjunct Professional Associate
Institute of Applied Ecology
University of Canberra
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Hi,
They do not need uvb and uvc to synthesise D3, however they must have a good dietry source. All turtles need full spectrum light for general health and well being. Skin condition and a proper cycle of lighting for day night.
So it is true they do not need it for D3, but they do need good lighting for other reasons.
Cheers, Scott
Scott Thomson
Adjunct Professional Associate
Institute of Applied Ecology
University of Canberra
