FRT - Advice and Help

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
A

Aquai

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 22, 2007
218
0
0
37
Hull/London, UK
www.aquai-designs.com
Just posted this on turtleforum.com but thought i'd ask here as well, as any help is appreciated.

Hi all,
I recently acquired an FRT from an online advertisment and was informed when buying the turtle that he seemed to have "something wrong with his shell". I now have the turtle in my possession and he's certainly seeming healthy enough but i can't help but worry about his shell.
The best way of describing it is that he has a peak in his shell and the rest is not as well formed, from what i've read online the only thing i can put it down to is calcium deficiency when younger. He's eating fine, and i feed him kiwi and banana twice a day (each with about 5 reptomin pellets in) and he is apparently regrowing his shell slowly (I don't know myself as i am currently away from home and have been for a few months).
My questions really are;
1. Have i diagnosed him correctly? Is it indeed calcium deficiency?
2. Is there anything else i could be doing to help recover him?
3. What are the chances he will "grow out" this shell morph? (He's about 5" / 6" shell size as stands - so plenty of time)

I have also included a picture my sister has sent me (excuse the quality,it's from her phone)
Click to expand...

DSC02338.JPG
 
It doesant seem to be calcium dificienci to me (but it can be) It seems to be some kind of congenit shell problem. But this kind of dificiency tends to be benign and your turt can live a happy long healty life. But depending on whats causing it,your turt may be able to outgrow it or it can really kripple your turt whit age. I think this is the case to wait and see. In the mean time give your turt a great diet, UV ligth and lotts of space and hopefully it will not be anything to worry about. But your turt will probably allways look deformed to some degree.
 
And if its some kind of calcium deficiency feeding him banana is not wise. Insted give papaia ,mango ,fics and lots dark leafy vegetebles ,apart from some more diverse animal food
 
UV's in there, and it's not curl just the angle the pictures taken cos that's what i thought when she sent me the picture but got her to send another one through, and he looks alright (i'm going home on tuesday so will get a chance to check him over):D

He won't take papaya or mango as much as i've tried, Kiwi and Banana plus Reptomin and also massivore pellets and algae wafers if he gets his mits on em. Anyone got any experience with any leaves they may go for? Or any other fruits?

As i say though he seems happy and healthy enough that i'm not too worried about it, just making sure i'm doing the right thing :D
 
Well, no-one seemed to post for a while, so here's another picture?

shellze2.jpg
 
stay away from the banana offer what your giving it now if hes accepting it thats great, try some cucumber and some romaine lettuce
 
Aquai;1833784; said:
Why should i steer clear of the banana, little confused. . .
Click to expand...
Because banana is very rich in phosphorus wich can disrupt the calcium/phosphorus rate that your turt needs to be healty (by the way is 2/1 or 3/1 or 2 parts of calcium for one of phosphorus) wich will make her vulnerable to metabolic bonne disease. This doesant mean that you cant feed her banana or other phosphorus rich foods as long they are not a big part of her diet. But I also think congratulations are in order of the day:D What I see in your second picure is a healty ,robust and absolutley gorgeous young turt, much bether than it was when you posted the first pics:D Keep her that way;)
 
varanio;1833278; said:
stay away from the banana offer what your giving it now if hes accepting it thats great, try some cucumber and some romaine lettuce
Click to expand...
Dear Varanio ,romaine letuce and cucumber are almost as bad as banana. Romaine letuce is one of the better letuces avaliable much healtier than iceberg for example but is still letuce and as such a mainly water based,full of phosphorus, oxalate and nitrate food. Cucumber has also a very high rate of phosphorus. Both can however enter a varied diet that has maily to relly on healtier dark leaf vegetables,calcium rich fruits like mango, good quality turtle pellets ,etc. That´s the way to go;):D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom