As a cable guy, I often get weird tips, but this one takes the cake. I was installing cable for a bunch of Russian bachelors. Ihere were half empty tanks filled with fish and reptiles all over the house.

The Russians kept trying to give me beer and cigarettes and then asked if I liked fish. I mentioned that I do indeed have a nice freshwater aquarium. He asks if I want a turtle. Now, I know I don't need a turtle. I know nothing about them. The fellow tells me that he had all these exhibits set up for his girlfriend's kids, whom had just left him. he said he was tired of the animals and didn't want to deal with them anymore.

I look at the turtle cage. It's a little baby red-eared slider sitting on a plastic waterfall (not currently on) and some seashells. And a huge amount of floating turtle poop. I asked the guy if he had a filter and he told me that as long as you keep the waterfall circulating, it will keep the water clean and you only need to change it every six months or so. I am no expert, but this seems suspect to me, I have to change the water in my tank every week.

So I lost my resolve and took pity on the poor bugger, his 10 gallon tank, and some cheap looking "turtle bites". The tank banged around in the back of my truck for a few hours before I got home. I filled and emptied it three times, bleached the hell out of it, and then added a bunch of conditioner. there is STILL some poop in there, but he can't be any worse off than before.

So now I don't know what to do? Should i take care of little Donatello? Or should I let him go (I believe he was caught locally)? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

(EDIT) I just looked at him in his darkened room. he seems to be gasping or at least inflating his throat sac a lot. Is this as bad a sign as I am afraid it is?

The Dregs ed around with this message at Mar 03, 2008 around 01:07

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