Hey guys! It's been a while since I've been here.
We've added to the family!
I now have three baby turtles that we picked up from the Reptile Convention last week in Tinley Park!! They're soooo sweet!

I have a few questions though.
We have an Eastern Painted and 2 Razorback Musks in a smallish tank (we'll be upgrading soon) the Eastern Painted is like 2 inches and the Razorbacks are seriously the size of Quarters. What size tank would be optimal for them now?
For the time being they're in a 10 gallon... that's mostly water. There are places for them to perch on. We have one of those UVA/UVB lights but honestly... it doesn't seem to be producing much heat at all. The water is about 81 degrees. We have a submersible mini Fluval in there.
I adore these little guys already!! They're so cute and so sweet....

Also....
I have hatchling pellets but they're not too interested in them. They do seems to like frozen mysis shrimp (I was panicked that they weren't eating and when I was feeding my saltwater tank once I tried to give it to them and they seemed to like it) anyway... is that ok for them?

I also have noticed that the Eastern Painted who we named Spike closes his eyes a lot and it seems like he does it progessively more and more.
I'm worried about infection.
But can I take him to a vet?? I just thought of the 4" law!! lol... my illegal baby turtles... oh dear.. what did I get myself into!!!
HELP!!

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I am owned by:
2 dogs, a Hahn's macaw, 2 parrotlets, 2 parakeets, 1 bearded dragon, 1 cornsnake, 2 yellow belly sliders, 1 razorback musk, 30 gallon saltwater reef, 10 gallon planted tank, 5.5 gallon planted betta tank

well I have to res's.
not to knowleged on ur species, but for the tank. on this site I use to go on it was 10 gallons per inch. I dont know if that is ridiculous or not, but it is what I go by.
sorry im not to much help lol.

i was thinking of going with a 20 long for now... until they get some size to them. Then upgrading to a 30 long and finally I was looking on glasscages.com at this awesome huuuge 160 (i think) wide set up. I know the Eastern will be big but the Razorbacks shouldn't get over 5 inches. I thought initially to make sure they eat and can find food to start them in a small tank until they get situated.

They have so much character! Speedy (one of the Razorbacks) loooves the filter. Bowser (the other Razorback) is an adventurer. And Spike was too.. he was soooo active but in the last few days he's been a little down in the dumps... which got me worrying and now the eye thing!

I put an additional light over his basking spot to hopefully provide more ambient heat. If he's not better by tomorrow I'm calling the vet.

*sigh*

I just don't want anything to happen to the little guy...

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I am owned by:
2 dogs, a Hahn's macaw, 2 parrotlets, 2 parakeets, 1 bearded dragon, 1 cornsnake, 2 yellow belly sliders, 1 razorback musk, 30 gallon saltwater reef, 10 gallon planted tank, 5.5 gallon planted betta tank

I'd definitely get Spike set up in his own quarantine tank, he may have caught something that doesn't effect the other two turtles from them, or he may have something that they haven't caught yet and time may be off the essence.

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"What is now proven was once only imagined." - William Blake

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Thanks Lacey!
yea.. we got him in a tupperware container now...

poor little guy....
I just feel so bad! I've never had one of my herps sick before... this is distressing!!

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I am owned by:
2 dogs, a Hahn's macaw, 2 parrotlets, 2 parakeets, 1 bearded dragon, 1 cornsnake, 2 yellow belly sliders, 1 razorback musk, 30 gallon saltwater reef, 10 gallon planted tank, 5.5 gallon planted betta tank

If I understand the 4 inch turtle law right, it is illegal to sell them, not to own them,,,,,, there would be many a breeders in jail because of it, lol. Adoption agencies are allowed to ADOPT them out, not sell them. i have adopted many of turtles under the 4 inch law,,, I just do not collect money for them. There are also a lot of people who have turtles and they breed,, it is not illegal for them to have them. I have also taken a lot of hatchling sliders to the vets and have yet to be arrested for it, lol. I think you would be just fine taking it to the vet.
There are also many of big turtle and tortoise breeders on line who sell them, only they are for "adoption" with a re homing fee, there are many of ways they get around that law. Not that I am tellin you to break the law, only how other people have gotten around it

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I have sucker tattood on my forehead

lol I looked into it myself. And you're right. It seems that it's set up mainly for businesses to avoid pet stores to sell them to little kids who don't practice proper hand hygiene.

I think I'll be safe taking Spike in

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I am owned by:
2 dogs, a Hahn's macaw, 2 parrotlets, 2 parakeets, 1 bearded dragon, 1 cornsnake, 2 yellow belly sliders, 1 razorback musk, 30 gallon saltwater reef, 10 gallon planted tank, 5.5 gallon planted betta tank

What type of light do you have? If it is one of those compact coil lights they are not intended to produce heat. And they don't produce much UVB either!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

You are right! I myself think its a ridiculous law, if parents were supervising their kids properly things like that dont happen. Back in the day department stores sold the res for next to nothing,, then very little children put them in their mouths and such and got sick. I have had many of small turtles, reptiles, and such in an out of here. I also have small children, who have never gotten sick because of them, but then again I supervise any and all handling and make sure that proper hand washing is done

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I have sucker tattood on my forehead

try feeding them small crickets. I read that baby turtles do better with live food, and start to accept the pellet foods shortly afterwards. I feed my painted turtle crickets, fish food, and also the pellet food.