Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Res thats 1 year old. He/she is already over 5 inches long, and has just now seemed to slow down. I was looking on different websites about pyramiding, which he looks like he has a slight case of it. His shell is not perfectly round, I see other Res with a much more perfect shell. Its not like severe pyramiding cases ive seen, but it has bothered me, the segements of his shell are just slightly raised. I feed a wide diet of Reptomin, carrots, lettuce, aquarium plants, feederfish, cuttle bone and the occasional cricket and snail. I change the water ATLEAST twice a month and he has no other problems. Hopefully I can get these pictures up to help. I also have a Florida Soft Shelled Turtle in the same tank as my RES, he is about 4 inches and they get along fine but do you think this will be a problem in the future?

This is my Florida Soft Shell Snorkel

Also i want to add that my two turtles are kept in a 120 gal aquarium, with good filtration (no shell rot of any kind) good UV lighting, large dock the whole nine yards, so i dont think it is a habitat issue. Could it be a parasite? He doesnt have any of the signs, but I had cought a wile crayfish when he was only about 5 monthes old and i saw pale yellow worm like thinks coming out of the crayfishes shell when he was shedding, after I saw that I immediatly let the crayfish go and thoroughly cleaned the tank, the crayfish was only in there for about a week. Could that be a problem maybe? But if Crush my RES had parasites wouldnt my Soft shell, hes not showing any signs of illness.

Your housing is awesome, nothing wrong there. Your diet is also great but I would cut down on the amount you feed. Pyramiding has nothing to do with parasites. Pyramiding is from the turtle growing to quicky which is from over feeding (high amounts of protien). I would feed your turtle meaty/pellet foods every other day, and on the off day just offer greens and veggies. This should help stop the pyramiding from getting any worse, which in your case its not very bad at all if any. Its hard to tell from the pics.
Hope this helps,
Chris
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Hey whats up, I'm Chris and I currently have 0.1 Midland Painted turtle, 1.0 Western Painted turtle, 0.1 Red Eared Slider, 1.1 Leopard Geckos, 1.0 Bearded Dragon and a 55gal Native Fish Tank

Ok thanks, I dont feed him that everyday mostly his diet consists of the Reptomin with feeder fish every couple weeks and veggies readily available. Ill cut back on the feeder fish, and stick to a more bland diet. I know the pictures are hard to see. But thanks

Turtles shouldnt grow more than 1 inch per year, so he is obviously overfed. He shouldnt get protein more than 3 times a week, no more than would fit in his head. Leafy green veggies should make up the majority of his diet. Feeder fish are fatty and can carry parasites, although it is ok once in awhile as a treat, they do like chasing fish. His shell may always be deformed from the excess protein, but it is important to correct it anyway, to minimize the damage overfeeding does to their kidneys and other internal organs.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

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sig file edited 1/29/05 [phw]

I am pretty sure 5inches is awfully big for a one year RES. You are probably feeding him too much. Keep a larger portion of his diet as greens, that should help.

Also when youm ention feeder fish what kind of fish are you feeding? Goldfish are the worst, and if you are feeding him any of those you could cut those out of the diet completely and it would be good.

Good luck! He looks like a happy little turtle
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

I have given him those comets but once i learned they were too fatty i stoped. I usually feed him those fleshy colored guppies.

sorry i forgot to add this, but if i REALLY cut back on his diet would he eventually grow into his shell(so to speak)?