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Post by joperks on Mar 22, 2012 9:51:26 GMT
Hello, I'm new to this forum and I have a tiny musk turtle who weighs 4 grams at the moment, so cute. I'm enjoying reading all about everyone's turtle and terrapins on this site. Here's some pics of our turtle and his new home his name is Tiddles. ;D
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Post by joperks on Mar 22, 2012 9:55:49 GMT
Tiddles is on the log at the bottom
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Post by turtlegirl on Mar 22, 2012 22:10:40 GMT
Tiddles is sooooooooooooo cute! Never seen such a tiny baby, must be practically a hatchling.
I had a baby musk but it was almost the size of half a walnut shell when I got it I thought that was small, compared to my adult sliders but giant compared to yours. Baby Musk has grown a lot since and is now 2.5inches long.
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Post by joperks on Mar 23, 2012 9:25:30 GMT
I know he is tiny, when we took him to the vet he said he could still see the belly button line that was attached in the egg. He couldn't tell me how old he was but it's obvious he wasn't that old. Also the people in the vet had never seen one that small either they were facinated with him, lol. He's been a worry as he's so small but we've had him two weeks today and I think he's settling in now, Looking forward to seeing him grow. I'm saying he, of course we don't know whether is girl or boy yet, Awww, how is your Musk doing? do you know how old yours is? How big are your sliders?
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Post by turtlegirl on Mar 25, 2012 22:21:06 GMT
Well it looks like you are well set up to care for your tiny baby. They shouldn't sell them so small as most new owners just wouldn't be able to look after them properly. Did you get yours from a pet shop or a friend who hatched some turtle eggs? What do you feed it?
I've had Baby Musk for 9 months now, not sure how old it was when I got it as it was a rescue but the previous owner had it and a young slider for 4 months before they decided to get rid of them both and get a staff instead. (Not sure why they couldn't keep the turtles too but I guess they are not a "status symbol" pet). Both musk and slider have more than doubled in size since I got them and I think they are both female.
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Post by ausyausy on Mar 26, 2012 17:27:41 GMT
Looks like a nice home for the little tiddler .
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Post by joperks on Mar 27, 2012 9:04:49 GMT
Well it looks like you are well set up to care for your tiny baby. They shouldn't sell them so small as most new owners just wouldn't be able to look after them properly. Did you get yours from a pet shop or a friend who hatched some turtle eggs? What do you feed it? I've had Baby Musk for 9 months now, not sure how old it was when I got it as it was a rescue but the previous owner had it and a young slider for 4 months before they decided to get rid of them both and get a staff instead. (Not sure why they couldn't keep the turtles too but I guess they are not a "status symbol" pet). Both musk and slider have more than doubled in size since I got them and I think they are both female. Well set up now! when I first got him (from a pet shop) they gave me a tube light to put in the lid and when I said shouldn't I have a lamp they said no this one is fine, so I left the lid on (first mistake) then he gave me gravel and I said can't they eat it and he said no they are fine with it (second mistake) then he said to fill the water up (third mistake as I saw him struggling to the top) and he said my filter inside was fine (fourth mistake) Luckily I went on a turtle web site and posted a pic and they all told me what I thought, to take the lid off etc etc I re-designed the tank and I think he has everything he needs now, and a visit to the vet gave me extra info like making sure he had a dry shady spot as well as a sun spot. He has reptomin complete at the moment but he doesn't want much as he's so little, I've tried putting dried shrimp in as a treat but he doesn't touch it. Oh, they are hard to look after (even though I was told they were easier than my tropical fish and so far I totally disagree with that ) So maybe they had, had enough of changing them etc. Good on you for taking them on!!
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Post by joperks on Mar 27, 2012 9:06:35 GMT
Looks like a nice home for the little tiddler . Thanks. I think he's happy, it is hard to tell of course but I've tried make it look as natural as I can.
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Post by linzi64uk on Mar 28, 2012 20:21:29 GMT
Once again I have learnt something new on this site. When I decided to take on my two YBS's the tank didnt have a light, heat lamp or filter but with common sense and I knew a little, I got heat lamp and filter etc. Now after reading 'joperks' post....there shouldnt be any gravel? ? The tank came with gravel, but looks like Im rock shopping this weekend. (Bonus also that the gravel is a real bind to clean every time) xx
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Post by joperks on Mar 28, 2012 20:31:47 GMT
Once again I have learnt something new on this site. When I decided to take on my two YBS's the tank didnt have a light, heat lamp or filter but with common sense and I knew a little, I got heat lamp and filter etc. Now after reading 'joperks' post....there shouldnt be any gravel? ? The tank came with gravel, but looks like Im rock shopping this weekend. (Bonus also that the gravel is a real bind to clean every time) xx I was on another forum and they posted a picture of a turtle's x ray, he had eaten lots of gravel, luckily he did survive. And also my vet said anything small than his little finger nail wasn't suitable and my gravel was absolutely tiny So out it went and I got lovely stones from my river (and scrubbed them loads of times) I'm thinking of adding play sand as that seems to be the advice, as they love digging in it, but I'm a bit worried about cleaning it
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Post by turtlegirl on Mar 29, 2012 21:08:20 GMT
Playsand from Argos is cheap and an excellent substrate. Cleaning before use id essential but easy. Here's an old trick fishkeeper's trick
Put sand in an old cotton pillowcase. Place pillowcase in bath an drun water from shower through it until water runs clear and clean. If no shower available, half fill bucket with sand in yard and run water from tap into bucket stirring constantly nd letting bucket overflow until water runs clear. Sand will need rinsing 4-5 times before use.
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Post by joperks on Mar 29, 2012 21:55:27 GMT
Playsand from Argos is cheap and an excellent substrate. Cleaning before use id essential but easy. Here's an old trick fishkeeper's trick Put sand in an old cotton pillowcase. Place pillowcase in bath an drun water from shower through it until water runs clear and clean. If no shower available, half fill bucket with sand in yard and run water from tap into bucket stirring constantly nd letting bucket overflow until water runs clear. Sand will need rinsing 4-5 times before use. Sand is in, I did indeed get it from argos and rinsed it loads of time before adding it When I mentioned I was worried about cleaning it though I meant maintenance later on, ;-) Any tips on that please or should I just take it out every water change? Thank you for the other tip though, (pillowcase) I'll do that when if I need to put new sand in
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