Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so I took my map turtle to this exotic vet today and he was diagnosed with shell rot. He had shell rot when I first got him because he was taken care of horribly before I got him. I ordered him online and he came in a cardboard fedex box. He almost died that first day. Well, today he had REALLY serious shell rot from year sof being mistreated (I've only had him for a couple months) and he can't even live in water for a long time. He had to have a shot and get the infection drilled out of his shell. And of course that was really expensive. So, I'll be nursing him back to health for the next couple of months.

J.L.

I am sorry to hear about your turtle. I don't know what a map turtle is. I have heard of them but don't remember what they look like.
Since he has shell rot, I would seperate all the ones that were in the same tank as him and check them out for shell rot too. I don't know if it's contagious but I have heard of other tank mates catching things from eachother.

Well, the vet told us to put him in his own little Rubbermaid container. He can be in water for only 10 minutes a day to prevent anymore infection. The vet said this was from years of being mistreated, I've only had him for about 2 months. Poor Dan (map turtle), he had to get the infection drilled out of his shell. It looked like it hurt! I've checked all the other turtles in my tank and I'm only questionable about one. He has a couple spots that I'll have checked when I take Dan back next week for ANOTHER shot!! Meanwhile, he's just been resting up. I can tell he's miserable, but he's a trooper!!
Anyway, if you want to see a picture of a map turtle, go to www.austinsturtlepage.com and click on map turtles on the side of the page. Then look at the pic of the Mississippi Map turtle, but imagine him with drilled holes in his back. There are other websites that show pics of map turtles. I recommend them, they're real sweet. Thanks!!

J.L.

Oh, and also he can't live with his buddies for about 6 months!!

J.L.

Oh Maps look like a cross between a RES and a Painted lol. They are cute. How big do they get? The size of a RES or the size of a Painted?
I think I am just going to stick with my one turtle (since I had to give three of my others up). He doesn't get along well with other turtles (that's why I had to give the others up). Plus I got rid of my other tanks so I don't really have room for more turtles anymore. Binx is a handfull to begin with! But they are cute!

Yeah, maps are REALLY cute!! And they are extremely friendly. Mine eats out of my hand, in or out of the water. They are a pretty turtle and come in lots of different kinds. They don't get very big. Females, of course, get bigger than males. Some can get big, like 10 in. but others generally stay around 6-8 in. I'd recommend one to anyone who loves turtles. Mine get salong great with my other guys even though he's just a little bit bigger.

J.L.

gets along**

J.L.

On this website, go to "Classifieds". Clcik on "Turtles" and scroll down the the one labled "Pearl river maps". Now that's a cute map turtle!!

J.L.