Turt Help !!!

[Weylin]

Well I rescued this turt from an lfs.. It was kept in really bad condition.. I can't get it to eat anything.. I've tried bloodworms, tubifex worms, letuice leaves and turt sticks..

Externally i can't see any infections..the shell seems to be ok..

Can i use the following medication without any problems ?

Tetracycline or methylene blue..

Here are the pics.. And can i get an id on it also ?

 

[coura]

Well you really made me scratch my head with this one Its your first turtle? Because if you dont have any turt experience this aint the easiest to start with(but glad you recued it from that bad situacion at the pet shop) That turt is a indian crowned river turtle Hardella thurjii a species very rarely kept in captivity and that has the reputacion of being both hard to keep alive in the long term and hard to make start eating(AKA hard to establsish but once established can be quite hardy, the hard part is getting them started). Its also prone to shell rot if the water quality deteriorates so keep it sparkly clean, deep and warm with a basking spot. This turt aint easy also because of the huge size it can atain, about 50cm long for big females. Its almost a completly herbivorus species so the diet you are giving it is very incomplete. This is a very shy species it needs both time and quiet as wells as lot of space and deep water to fell confortable and eventualy start eating. You should give her dark leafy vegetables(letuce, ruibarb and spinach dont qualify) alongside aquatic plants, some fruits like figs, mango and papaya and every now and then some shrimp and turt pellets. Also unless you see any signs of shell rot, DONT use any of thouse medicasions it will only make it worse. Because of this along side the fact that is a endangered species, very hard to keep in captiviy the long term and because its native from your area, my short term sugestion is that unless you have a real big, deep and well planted garden pond you should release her into one of the main rivers in your area once your shure she is healty

 

[Weylin]

Thanks for all that info.. Well i really hope i can get her to eat..then ill be able to release her back in May or June.. I was'nt really sure about the sepecies at the lfs. I think in going to call the forest department and get that shop raided.. They even had 2" start torts..pisses me off..

I found this one in a tank with filthy water and was filled with broken tank stuff..


Anyways..ill do what you said and hope for the best..

Well i have about 5 other turts..3 differant species of Tents..(i think there are differant species or variations)

 

[coura]

If you have a garden pond it would be a great advantage Also do the rigth thing if you cant get her to eat...

 

[Weylin]

Finally got it to eat.. I put it in a 10g tank..with about 3" of water and big piece of driftwood.. I kept it in the verandha where there is a lot of direct sunlight..

So far it has eaten 2 letuice leaves..

 

[coura]

Wow your keeping it in the veranda? Wach out as a such small tank can heat very very quicly with the sun ligth and literaly cook your turtle. If your doing that put in a place were it only reaches indirect ligth and wach as temps raise. Dont you have something bigger to put her in? A big ruber or plastic conteiner is better! Also as I said you earlier letuce doesant qualify as a good food for your turtle. This turtles grow VERY quicly, they have a huge fiber and calcium need wich can only be provided by dark leafy green like turnip greens, water cress, dandilions, kale, mustard greens and fiber rich fruits like figs and mango. See if you can get her something better to eat Also how big is the place were you are keeping your indian tends? Once this turt is in full health she can live with them if the place is big enough as they are peacefull giants, just keep in mind how big they get. A minimum 450 liter aquarium or pond is needed

 

[Weylin]

Ill move the tank to a shadier place.. and follow the diet you gave me..

I got space for a 40x15x15 tank or tub.. But will only be able to do this after my exams..

 

[coura]

Ill move the tank to a shadier place.. and follow the diet you gave me..

I got space for a 40x15x15 tank or tub.. But will only be able to do this after my exams..

Good That tank however wont sustain him untill he´s less then half grown

 

[Weylin]

I don't plan on keeping him forever.. I wanna release him back to the wild as soon as i can find a clean river..and somewhere in the rural part of india..