Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:31 pm My red earred slider died today. Help me figure out wy
I live in Buffalo, NY and RES are not native here. One day kayaking I caught 2 baby RES. My son begged me to keep these ones. I said yes since if we have a cold winter here they die anyway or it’s likely they will. I have had them since about mid October and they were doing well the one was always a bit larger and he was growing much faster. The slightly smaller one was always slower to eat. Recently I started trying to feed him more to even out the size. They would fight over worms and I was worried he’s get hurt or not get enough food. They always had live plants to eat, live Rosie’s, live guppies, live ghost shrimp, and I’d feed them turtle pellets. I added crushed coral to give them nutrients into the water like calcium. They have a heater(76-78F), they have an over sized canister filter and I do 75% water changes every week and a half. I do dechlorinate the water. They have logs and rocks to bask on. It’s a 55 gallon tank with about 30 gallons of water. I do have lights on there, but noticed recently they have mostly stopped basking. About 2 weeks ago my son noticed a brown spot on the one who died a foot. I checked it out and it was firm and slightly raised. It was not broken skin and it did not seem to bother him. He was still acting normal and using his foot. I thought he was fine. Yesterday he didn’t eat, but I fed him a good bit the day before. Now today he’s dead. I feel terrible. My sons 11 and he loves these turtles. He would check on them in the morning, stop down and talk to them after school, and put them to bed. He fed them and he’s just sit down there and watch them. He’s crushed. Here are some pictures of his foot. I think maybe he broke it fighting with the other and maybe it was infected. It never swelled up or oozed or anything. Maybe he was out competed, but I always made sure he got food. The other turtle looks great and eats voraciously still. Super active too. The one that died always seemed to lag a bit behind in everything. Any help would be much appreciated. I want to care for the other one and keep him a live. I do t think it’s anything communicable, but want to be sure. Thanks kindly for any advice. I’m not new to turtles, but never had this happen.
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