Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm really upset. I just got a Western Painted Turtle at the pet store on Sunday for my son. the turtle seemed fine. We took him home and set up the tank according to instructions. 30 inch by 10 inch tank. About 8 inches of water. Rocks built up for basking. A light with three bulbs, 1 basking, 1 night light and one flourescent. The turtle seemd fine the first day. We gave him some turtle food and he ate. Then he seemed to just stay up on the rock the whole next day. And now he appears to be dead. My son is devestated and I'm really upset. Anyone have any idea how this could have happened? Could cold water have done it? I think the water might have been too cold. I don't know. This sucks.

Herbert.

Dear Herbert & Son,

Indeed, it sucks BIG TIME! I sincerely doubt anything you did or provided, excluding gross physical injury, would have killed this turtle given the time frame (< 3 days). The turtle was compromised BEFORE you brought him home. Pet-shop conditions are often not the best...
Others will address the specific water-temperature question, I hope; but most non-tropical turtles do not need elevated water temps...unless ill.

Please consider adopting an unwanted turtle through your local herp society or finding a breeder who will be sure that you are informed of all environmental needs for their species. I would be gravely suspicious of a replacement turtle from the same shop. Regardless of what the shop says, be wary!

Best of luck in future turtles!

Thanks. Good advice. The thing that's hard to understand is the turtle seemed very active when we picked him out at the pet shop. Could the shock of changing environment had anything to do with it? We did notice that one of the sections of his shell was peeling, but the pet shop said he was shedding and that was normal.