Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2016 10:48 am RES or Superman
1am Wednesday Ellen woke me up telling me to see what's up with the turtles. Mickey was up on top a new resting area I built for him. He is an adult RES about three , three an half pounds. Never keeps still long enough. I re homed him but now is back. Neighbor passed away and his wife wanted him out. So not to see him go in a park pond I took him back. He's/ Mickey is in with my Mississippi Map , tank 150 gallon Rubbermaid trough. I knew he would want his own resting area , made one big enough strong enough for an adult. Never done this before but put a top on it of plastic plants. ( cave like/ hiding area) Submersed 2" in the water like he was use to. This gave me a clearance of 12" to the top. I watched him take it apart using the plants as a ladder. Now Mickey's on top of plants on his hind legs checking to see how far he had to go for escape. He always was an escape artist . Thinking I had a foot clearance all would be ok. When he was a baby he never used ramps always taking the hard way. Mickey even climbed hanging plants to get where he wanted to go. That would make him stronger / yes it did ! When he saw me was startled and jumped. He was airborne / superman... Cleared the top of trough only having his plastron hit the side wall pushing him back to the water. Airborne ! If Mickey had a better angle he would be out. Only one got hurt was me. I was several feet away watching / thinking he was to hit the floor I ran forward / me hitting the floor hurting my wrist... Should have seen the look Mickey gave me when I took the resting area out. Learned something new ... Ellen again said our agreement was is to keep only one turtle??? Can see we are in for a big problem... I want Mickey to. My escape artist ! Remember this is an adult RES about three , three an half pounds. If he was not on his hind legs standing straight up this would of never happened. But then I am talking about a turtle ! All good now as far as Mickey. Ellen and I have a lot to talk about ?