Mouth Rot? - Page 4

StudentoReptile · 11-22-12, 09:41 PM

Yeah, you could go a tad higher if you wanted. I shoot for 95-100'F for most aquatic turtles, and thats the actual basking surface, not ambient temps (just to be clear).

But again, let the turtles show you. If they're basking a LOT, they could probably be a little warmer. If they avoid the lamp, its probably too hot.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-22-12, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Yeah, you could go a tad higher if you wanted. I shoot for 95-100'F for most aquatic turtles, and thats the actual basking surface, not ambient temps (just to be clear).

Okay, I'll try it. I was just concerned with it being too warm as the one hadn't opened its eyes, so I wasn't positive it'd be able to thermoregulate really effectively if it got too hot.

Oh, also, the hard growth on the one is gone. It had softened and mostly come off on its own, and it came off the rest of the way when the turtle rubbed its head. There's a bit of a dip there, but no bleeding or pus, and it doesn't appear to be bothered.

~Maggot

StudentoReptile · 11-22-12, 10:39 PM

Its amazing what just a few days of proper care will do.

exoticvirus · 11-23-12, 02:27 AM

that sounds like the same condition that killed my friend's sulcata tortoise

EmbraceCalamity · 11-23-12, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Its amazing what just a few days of proper care will do.

Yeah. I've done this a bunch of times with different animals, but each one is different and I never know what to expect, so I just do my best and hope for the best. Hopefully they'll continue to improve.

Quote:

Originally Posted by exoticvirus

that sounds like the same condition that killed my friend's sulcata tortoise

Yes, mouth rot can be fatal if it's allowed to develop and then ignored instead of treated.

~Maggot

EmbraceCalamity · 12-05-12, 08:51 PM

Update:

The one with the missing lower jaw is doing well. I'm still feeding it by hand, but it appears to be pretty active and getting much healthier. There's a UVB light, basking spot, filter, heater, and eye drops. The smaller one with the missing toe, half its tail missing, and soft shell just passed away. I ran into the person who had only just acquired them and I took them from (not the original owner), and apparently all of the other babies that the original owner had died. So this last one is the only one left. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one will make it.

~Maggot

StudentoReptile · 12-06-12, 06:18 PM

That's good. As long as he is eating well, eye remain clear and has no soft shell, it should only get better from here on out. Sorry for the loss of the other one, but kudos for saving at least one.

EmbraceCalamity · 12-06-12, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

That's good. As long as he is eating well, eye remain clear and has no soft shell, it should only get better from here on out. Sorry for the loss of the other one, but kudos for saving at least one.

I actually ran into the original owner today. She apparently had two different groups in two different rooms, and the ones in one room died while the others didn't. She argued that the reason group 1 died is because people were (allegedly) touching the tarantulas also in that room and then touching the turtles. I told her that they had severe calcium and vitamin A deficiencies and needed UVB lights, and that, while they may have come to her unhealthy (which they probably did, given the missing body parts), they likely would have made it with proper care. But she continued to insist that it was because people were (allegedly) touching both. Apparently that's much more likely than they came unwell and she failed to provide any proper care, so they died.

Also, she says she ordered them as red-eared sliders, but there's no red on their ears, which she said is because they're babies. I did a quick Google search before and found babies with red on their ears. But could they be RES without the red?

~Maggot

Zoo Nanny · 12-06-12, 08:14 PM

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that this one makes it. It's a wonderful thing you have done to try to save these little ones.

StudentoReptile · 12-06-12, 08:32 PM

Some RES hatchlings don't have a lot of red, but your pics on page 2 weren't that great. I would want to see some better photos. They could be yellow-bellied sliders, or some type of river cooter.

EmbraceCalamity · 12-07-12, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Some RES hatchlings don't have a lot of red, but your pics on page 2 weren't that great. I would want to see some better photos. They could be yellow-bellied sliders, or some type of river cooter.

Yeah, unfortunately, the camera on my phone is all I have right now. I'll be getting a camera for Christmas, though, so I can post better pics then. I'd definitely like to have him/her positively IDed, since I'm just not very good at turtle identification.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoo Nanny

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that this one makes it. It's a wonderful thing you have done to try to save these little ones.

Thank you.

~Maggot

**Aaron_S** · 12-07-12, 09:10 PM

Look for the yellow belly and see if they match up. They look really similar to red ears.

Also, I would change your enclosure. I would remove the whole gravel pit thing and just place rocks like you've done. I find most turtles will spend their time in water or basking. So I'd go a couple rocks for basking, maybe the big one not under the light but out of the water. It'll give the guy more room to swim as he grows.

beardeds4life · 12-10-12, 12:38 AM

I agree. That is sad that one passed away. From the sounds of it the other one seems like there is a good chance it could make it. If you do have it as it gets bigger I would recommend buying a christmas tree bin. Depending on the size of it most likely you would be able to use it the life of the turtle. It will be hard to find them anytime except christmas though.