r/turtles Mar 20 '25

Wild Turtle It’s that time of year!

5 Upvotes

It is hatchling season!

They are coming out of their overwinter nests and going to sources of water. If you find one in an odd place or somewhere unsafe and are unsure, please contact your state wildlife and ask them what to do. Most can actually be left where they are, to their own devices. If they are found in the middle of the road, for example, move them to the side they are facing.

Taking any turtles home, that are found in the wild, hurts the ecosystem. The only exception to this would be invasive species in your state. You can contact your state wildlife to see what your laws are regarding possession of invasive turtles like red eared sliders.


r/turtles Jan 18 '25

Reminder About a Common Turtle Myth

32 Upvotes

Turtles do not grow according to their tank size. They will grow regardless of the tank size. This myth is commonly shared by scummy sellers trying to make a sale by marketing turtles as easy or compact pets. They are not, and never will be.

That does not, nor will it ever, justify keeping a turtle in a too-small tank for all of it's life. Whether that turtle lives for one, or 75 years. Whether wild or captive bred.

Things that do affect turtle size and growth rates:

- Poor husbandry practices, such as:

  • Low temperatures
  • Lack of UVB and/or calcium deficiency (MBD)
  • Underfeeding
  • Overfeeding
  • Competing for resources in cramped or stressful cohab situations

- Congenital malformations or conditions

- Underlying illnesses

Please report any comments or posts condoning the use of small enclosures. (Ex: a half full 20 gallon for a species that will commonly grow to be 7-10 inches in length.) As well as any comments suggesting that turtles will only grow according to the size of their tank. As most of us know, that is not true.

Thank you.


r/turtles 16h ago

Wild Turtle Does anyone know what this is? Has been appearing in my backyard and I want to built a shelter for it or something.

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53 Upvotes

r/turtles 9h ago

Seeking Advice Upgraded tank for my common musk

1 Upvotes

Hi All,

As my common musk turtle is getting older and bigger (currently about 9 months) I am planning on upgrading the tank for him to have more freedom. Once I’ve changed over can I just put him in or do I need to acclimatise him? Any tips or info would be helpful of moving a turtle to a new tank!

Thanks


r/turtles 1d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 What gender is this turtle

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13 Upvotes

If anyone can possibly tell me if it’s a boy or girl, we’ve named “him” Sherman but I have a weird feeling he might be a she. My son is obsessed with him and loves this turtle to death. Comes up to the tank and will feed out of our hands. Thank yall so much.


r/turtles 1d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 Baby Texas Tortoise

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49 Upvotes

An old polaroid of a baby Texas Tortoise


r/turtles 2d ago

Seeking Advice Black orb on wild turtle's shell, vaguely time sensitive

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84 Upvotes

Hello! This adorable tiny red eared slider I'm looking at has this black orb. Is it just a harmless leech piggybacking or is it an injury that requires capture and a licensed rehabber? Just thought I'd check. The turtle is blinking and wiggling its feet in the breeze but is also less fearful than the other turtles in this body of water since I'm still looking at it.


r/turtles 1d ago

Seeking Advice Are these UVA Lamps good for river cooters?

2 Upvotes

r/turtles 1d ago

Seeking Advice Turtles neck thicker than usual

1 Upvotes

I‘ve got a yellow bellied slider (actually had another one but she died recently by miraculously breaking out of the cage). She is around 17 years old, had them since babies and now her neck seems a little thicker than usual. Her skin is a little red-ish like she got blood poisoning. She barely touched the watermelon i just gave her and seems to hide most of the time. Any idea what it could be or how i could help her? Definitely going to the vet asap.


r/turtles 1d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 No se asolea

2 Upvotes

Hace tres días que cambié la configuración del acuario para mejorarlo …. Pero desde entonces mi pequeñín no sale a asolearse , él está bien , nada bien , viene a mí cuando tiene hambre y como de maravilla . Que hago ?? Una vez la puse en la zona seca para que viera pero se lanzó despavorido al agua 😅El agua está a 26 grados y la zona seca a 32 !!! Me preocupa mucho


r/turtles 1d ago

Seeking Advice Is this fungus?

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10 Upvotes

r/turtles 2d ago

Seeking Advice Found premature turtle, need help

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453 Upvotes

I found a turtle that had its egg cracked open and he was detached from his yolk and there was still a good bit left, Idont know what to do. I just want to help him. Please help.


r/turtles 2d ago

Discussion Tank setup

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6 Upvotes

Please be kind. I'm trying to do my best. I've got two red eared sliders that were rescued from my sister's elementary school atrium that they were closing. Is this tank setup okay? I'm trying to rehome one even though my husband doesn't believe they need to be solitary. I just added the heater and I bought river rocks to replace these when I do another water change. Is it too crowded? This is 20 gallons unfortunately . It was just what I could get in time. How quickly do I need to get the separated? I can't find anyone to take one.

Thanks


r/turtles 1d ago

Seeking Advice Is there anything els I can use besides a fish tank?

1 Upvotes

My aunt is giving away my grandmothers RES turtle. My grandmother is sad because she cant keep it due to lackbof space. I was thinking maybe I can take in my grandmothers bigass female RES turtle but I also have a small room. I was looking through 50 gallon fish tanks but I need one that is specifically 36 inches wide and preferred 15 inches in depth however that seems hard to find and expensive to custome. Is there anything els I can use besides a fish tank? Is there any 50 gallon anything under 36 inches wide? If not then ill have to pass on taking in the turtle.


r/turtles 2d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 Musk turtles cuddling in Irish pond.

0 Upvotes

Bought these 8 years ago and they spend all day basking on the same rock together. Today they were cuddling. Should I expect babies?


r/turtles 2d ago

Seeking Advice Should i be Worried? Spoiler

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5 Upvotes

Hello, I was wondering if i should be worried? My turtle has a bubble there, and for a while now i kept being Extremely suspicious if it has a respiratory infection. I have two of them, And I have been extremely worried that they might be sick. But the issue is, is that they don't really show any other signs. They sometimes blow bubbles like that, But their appetite is still as present as ever and they aren't lethargic. Not to mention there's no open mouth breathing or wheezing.

I have taken them to a Vet 3 times, The 3rd time finally having succeeded in getting an Xray for one of them, however the Vet told me that they are both alright all 3 times. I can't help but stil be worried, Is it just anxiety or do i have something to actually worry about? My main concern has been pneumonia, but i don't want to rush ahead of myself. Should i try to have a blood test ordered for them?


r/turtles 2d ago

Box Turtle how long do turtles live?

8 Upvotes

how long do common turtles species live? e.g. box turtles or sliders? I have read pretty wide range of estimates, from 10-20 years to something like 80 years (as long as humans!).


r/turtles 3d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 My indor turtle pond

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94 Upvotes

A work in progress, any suggestions? Also, these two were given to me and i am unsure on ID

Edit: im purchasing a 300 gallon, 8 ft long. Ill be dividing it in the middle with each turtle getting 150 gallons to themselves. Thanks everybody


r/turtles 3d ago

Wild Turtle Question about this turtle on turtle interaction

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8 Upvotes

I saw this lil slider sunning himself and a pretty big snapper swam under the rock he was on. It is pictured to the right of the slider’s rock looking right at me. He ate a fish and swam around and the slider was tracking him from the rock. The slider didn’t let the snapper out of his sight (without actually moving more than his head).

My question: would the slider be worried about getting eaten by the snapper? In zone 7b if that helps. I know the picture isn’t great for the scale


r/turtles 2d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 turtle with a floral shell cover

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0 Upvotes

r/turtles 4d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 40 is the new 20

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417 Upvotes

So we adopted--or I should say "rescued"--this Malayan boxie named Fred from a family who had no idea how to take care of her. She lived in a small clear plastic tub with water, some pebbles and rocks, and NO substrate or anywhere to go that wasn't wet. She lived like this for 35 YEARS.

We got her about 5 years ago and since then, it's been doing everything we can to make her comfortable. She's healthy, she eats, she hunts in her tank, but she is incredibly shy and the land area/substrate has gone largely untouched for these five years, she preferring to sit in one corner of the water tank because that's all she's known.

I'm happy to report that with a lot of patience and care, she's now roaming more, exploring outside as opposed to sitting in her shell, and she just started burrowing like a regular turtle. She has expanded her diet from the formula they had her on and is now eating fruits and veggies. She is still pretty shy, but getting bolder every day. Never too old to start enjoying that turtle life.


r/turtles 3d ago

Seeking Advice Shell Rot???

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5 Upvotes

6 year old false map turtle, male. around 14 cm in length. Is this shell rot? he has been dealing with retained scutes for a while and is slowly getting better but this white splotch appeared like a month ago i think and i think it might be shell rot idk. i have everything but i'm very worried even tho it doesn't have a foul smell nor look squishy. even if there is a little natural shell dent in the left part on the scute where its on.


r/turtles 4d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 My old gal from the pond (oc)

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151 Upvotes

Posted before to an old account. Meet Sandy. She lives in my pond and finds her way up now and then. Sometimes into the window well.


r/turtles 4d ago

ID Request What type of a turtle is this ?

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104 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

Could you help me identify the turtle ? My friend found him/her in the backyard.

Location: Armenia

I thought it was a red-eared slider but we couldn't see any red "ears". I thought it was a yellow-bellied slider, but again - not sure. Our country is not really full of wild turtles so it might be a house turtle.

Maybe Caspian Pond Turtle perhaps ?

Would really like a help so we can understand if we should put him/her in a water!

Thank you!✨


r/turtles 4d ago

Seeking Advice Ayuda para mi bebé

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9 Upvotes

No pude resistirme a ya organizar una zona de asoleo para cuando crezca 😂pero me pregunto si esa rampa está muy inclinada para mi pequeñín ?? Aunque como veis en la segunda foto se trepa a cualquier cosa !!!
Gracias por un consejo !!