My softy for the past two weeks has decided he doesn't want to eat unless I hand feed him mealworms. He is scared to death when i get close to him, which makes this practice specifically difficult, as well as expensive. This weekend I thought he was dead he didnt even move. Tonight though I saw him swimming around his tank. I had one guy at the pet wtore tell me his biological clock was saying its time to hibernate and I should let him out in the wild. I've read sufficent material to say never do this....in fact this is the first time i was told TO do so...which is one reason I don't think this guy was too crediable. Also, there's a real long white thing coming out of both my softy's tail and one of my girlfriends RES hatchlings tail....they're in seperate tanks...any ideas? I'm gonna call up the vet tomorrow but I really don't have that much money right now so any help would be appreciated.
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Hibernation?
Replies (2)
Check with the guy who answered my post in herp health and breeding forum. I don't know what in the world that could be. Good luck.
What possesses these people in these petshops to give out ridiculous answers to people? Even if you were to consider releasing him (which is not a good idea unless you know his entire history) you could very easily end up handing this turtle a death sentence by doing so. Glad you have the good sense to read and not listen to someone in a petshop giving out bad information.
If you live in a cold area and were to release this guy now he would probably not survive. Turtles need to have no food whatsoever in their gut when they hibernate. This is why I withhold food from my outdoor turtles after water temps drop down to 60 degrees or lower. (most stop eating on their own).
If your little guy were released into cold waters now (which would be a shock too as he has not had time to gradually acclimate) he would go underwater and bury himself with a stomach full of mealworms or whatever and that food would just sit in his stomach and instestines all Winter rotting. That rotting food would end up killing him.
You are doing the right thing by contacting a vet. He may just be a bit sluggish now but you want to be sure he is okay.
Steve
