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PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 11:57 am
by Mink
:D

A Great Big THANK YOU to all who helped me with my baby turtle. My son named him RedNeck, and he's doing GREAT!! He's become a very active little guy and is eating well. Thanks to Marisa's guidance on using Cod Liver Oil on his eyes, in addition to an eye wash that I picked up at the pet store, both of his eyes are opening and healing nicely.

I changed his habitat by chucking the cedar mulch, filling the tank with water, purchasing a turtle dock, as well as a submersible heater. My next steps are to purchase a 20 gal. tank and filter (but I'll have to wait a bit on the new tank). I will send pictures in a couple of days.

Again, thanks to all for helping!! :D

PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 3:01 pm
by marisa
Mink, I've kind of been waiting to hear how he's doing--this is good news indeed! Glad you're improving his habitat, he sounds well on the way to recovery. Just one more suggestion--is it warm enough to get him outside for some unfiltered sunlight (windows block UVB rays and he needs them for his shell)? If not, a UVB light would really be good (not the same as the heat lamp) as well.

Looking forward to seeing a pic of a healthy RedNeck. :)

PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 3:14 pm
by Mink
Yes, I have plans to purchase a UVB lamp, too, for healthy shell growth. And, yes, it is warm enough to take him outside for a while. I'm planning on getting a shallow feeding "pan" and was thinking that I could take him outside for an hour or so (unless it gets too hot) and let him eat and catch some rays.

Thanks, again, for all your help, Marisa!

PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 3:19 pm
by marisa
No problem. Just show us some pics sometime. :)

PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 4:42 pm
by lydia_lady_fla
hey mink sounds like gr8 news.....friendly warning dont be suprised if he inches his way into your heart and your unable to release him back into the wild. sure glad you rescued him caz I think we all know he would have surely died if the kids had been left to play with him much longer. I take my turtle outside in its feeding container (its actually an oblong plastic casserole dish)I just set out with him and enjoy the sun rays too and moving the bowl as needed so that one side is in a shady area. :lol: when I see a big hawk pass over or my Tom cat coming home thats when it really does hit me Marisa that you truely are responsible for what you tame :lol:

PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 4:48 pm
by marisa
You're supervising him, right? That's good. For bigger containers, you could make a covering to prevent hawks, etc. from getting at him. I just bought some hardware cloth with 1/2 inch holes to make covers for the pool and stock tank I'm setting up outside. They'll get the sun, and should be safe from predators during the time they're outside.

PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 4:51 pm
by Mink
You're probably right, Lydia. We've really taken a "shine" to the little guy. Thanks for the input.

PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 6:26 pm
by lydia_lady_fla
its already been taking care of but may be worth noting any how...I was wondering did you notices his eyes swollen at the lake or was it after you had settled him into his new home? the reason I asked was I had a puppy that had a cedar chipped pillow (runs off the fleas) well she was fine that night the next day her eyes were runny and swollen, after the 2nd night it was worse guess what allergic to cedar....then I had a hamster same thing going on with her eyes so I discarded her cedar chips and used the corn husk stuff instead,again the eyes cleared in a few days or so. apperently while most small critters do just fine on cedar some are allergic?......I forgot about all this till just now so if you could think about it and say it was after exposer to the chips it might help others to know that the cedar oils may irrate skin /eyes thanks for all our learning experiences that do no long term harm hey :mrgreen:

Care

PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 10:12 pm
by Oldturtle72
Where in the wild would a aquatic turtle come in contact with Cedar Shavings. Your turtles' eyes are being affected by the Cedar fumes. Get it out of there before it becomes completely blind. Whatever were you thinking when you used that stuff? RESs don't live or burrow into shavings of any kind, the closest would be dead leaves on a lake or pond bottom and they wouldn't be Cedar. George

Care

PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 10:27 pm
by Oldturtle72
Sorry, Mink,
Got a little carried away. Was scrolling down the forum and saw the habitat with the Cedar shavings and then the pic with the turt with closed red eyes and immediately knew the cause and jumped in with out looking at the post of yours that said you had changed the habitat and dumped the Cedar. I'm so glad you came on this forum and found all the good advise you needed for your turts well being. George :D :D

PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2005 12:44 am
by Mink
Yep, I chucked the cedar. However, the turtles eyes were already messed up when I took him from the kids at the lake. I don't know what happened to them. I assumed that the kids had somehow damaged them as they carried him around and was actually preparing myself for the possibility that he might have lost them (or his sight, at least). The cedar might have made them worse, I don't know because there was no noticeable affect (I don't think they could've gotten worse). I didn't notice any change with his eyes until using the oil and eye wash, and the change was for the better. They definitely appear to be on the road to full healing now.

And, yes, I am glad that I found this site. The people here have been very helpful in directing this RES newbie.

PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2005 12:33 pm
by marisa
Injury is possible (any lesions, broken skin?) but the swollen eyes could also possibly have been the start of a respiratory infection (other symptoms hadn't started yet and it was caught early) or even a Vitamin deficiency (lack of Vit A can cause eye problems).

I've read that wood with resins/oils like cedar, pine isn't good as a substrate for land turtles, it's probably not good for any turtle to burrow in.

PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2005 12:36 pm
by lydia_lady_fla
thanks for the info. Mink and Marisa again glad you stepped in and things are better for red neck very cute name

PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2005 8:53 pm
by Mink
Pics of RedNeck...

Image

Image

tee hee

PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2005 12:41 pm
by GouzlanTheAmerican
Shure is a cute little feller :D