Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

https://www.crepnw.com/
Click here for Dragon Serpents

kensopher or anyone?

PHRatz May 09, 2006 07:37 PM

I can't remember ken, you don't have ornate woods do you? You have spotted?

Just wondering because while I was at the vet with the dog today I noticed she had a large tank with 3 ornate woods in it. I asked about them she said since they've been there, she's found eggs.
She said if any hatch one is yours.

:::::faint:::::

Oh no please not another turtle LOL!!!
I said if I took one my husband will kill me, she said So? My husband is about to kill me over the turtles so we'll just go down together. LOL

I only have 7 turtles & 1 tortoise, she must have a couple dozen or more turtles & tortoises of different species .. but she's a vet which means she has people she can pay to do the hard cleaning work for her.
I got to thinking even though I don't think this is going to happen.. I'd still better be prepared just in case.
I wondered if you or for that matter if anyone here knows where the best care sheets for them are?

TIA
-----
PHRatz

Replies (9)

kensopher May 11, 2006 02:23 PM

I have North American Wood turtles. Ornate woods are from South America. Try to ascertain what exact species they are. There are several in South America. They all have different care requirements even though they are all very similar. I've heard that they make wonderful pets, but they also require a lot of attention. They are pretty intelligent. Also, I know that you live in Texas. They require high humidity.

PHRatz May 11, 2006 03:45 PM

>>I have North American Wood turtles. Ornate woods are from South America. Try to ascertain what exact species they are. There are several in South America. They all have different care requirements even though they are all very similar. I've heard that they make wonderful pets, but they also require a lot of attention. They are pretty intelligent. Also, I know that you live in Texas. They require high humidity.

Ok I found a photo at the WTC site. It'd be the Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima manni species:
http://www.chelonia.org/Rpmanni1.jpg

I know they have a care sheet for them at their site but their care sheets tend to be too generalized & aren't extremely detailed. Which they state was their goal so I'm not criticizing them for that.. I'd just like to find something more detailed.

Even though it's dry here, I have managed to keep a horned frog humid enough since Aug. 1998. He was a tiny baby when I got him & he's still doing great. I also have hermit crabs that were dumped on me in 2001, they're doing fine and they need high humidity too. I think I have the humidity figured out when I need a humid tank.
I'm just like oh geeze do I want to do this or not? Hard to say no but I don't know if I really want to raise another hatchling or not. The last 2 were easy they are now 10 & 12 years old.
But then all the rescues came along afer them...so I have 5 box, the tortoise, the fat tailed gecko, 2 crabs, the parrot we caught, 5 rats, 2 tarantulas & our 12 year old dog has had Cushing's disease since 2004 and this year came down with congestive heart failure. Those diseases cause him to cost us a bundle in vet bills. Unfortunately that's not going to keep going on forever with the dog.
While I want to say yes on the other hand I kind of hope there aren't enough eggs that hatch so maybe there won't be enough babies to spare one for me. LOL
-----
PHRatz

kensopher May 11, 2006 05:18 PM

In a tank situation, humidity would be pretty easy to keep under control. I wasn't sure if you'd try to keep the turtle outside. You'd have to have a fairly large tank for an adult ornate wood.

You sound like a compassionate individual. Also, you seem to dote on your animals in a way that I haven't since I was very young...it's endearing. We should all treat our captives that way. Unfortunately, many of us fall into the trap of having too many pets. I don't want to tell you what to do, but it really doesn't sound like your heart is in this. I have no doubt that, if you brought another little turtle home, you'd bond with it. But, the extra work may make you a little bitter.

I used to work at a vet, so people would bring me tons of hurt turtles and even those they didn't want anymore. They seemed to think that I had an endless supply of food and housing for turtles. I had to start turning them away. Then, I found that I really enjoyed helping to find good homes for turtles that truly did need rescueing. I placed one blind juvenile box turtle with a little 8 year old girl. She was so enthusiastic about the turtle, she researched for months while the turtle healed from its wounds in my care. (It's head had been nearly crushed by a car...an amazing story of recovery!). I still receive updates from her and the turtle is doing famously. You may want to consider helping to find these hatchlings good homes instead of taking them yourself. Sorry for the long post.

PHRatz May 12, 2006 10:02 AM

>>In a tank situation, humidity would be pretty easy to keep under control. I wasn't sure if you'd try to keep the turtle outside. You'd have to have a fairly large tank for an adult ornate wood.
Yeah that's just it. A tank for a hatchling would be no big deal but what about later? I couldn't keep an adult outside with the box turtles. It's too hot & dry in the summer for an adult to be outside anyway even if I created a space for it to be alone.

>>
>>You sound like a compassionate individual. Also, you seem to dote on your animals in a way that I haven't since I was very young...it's endearing. We should all treat our captives that way. Unfortunately, many of us fall into the trap of having too many pets. I don't want to tell you what to do, but it really doesn't sound like your heart is in this. I have no doubt that, if you brought another little turtle home, you'd bond with it. But, the extra work may make you a little bitter.

Thanks for the compliments.
I do tend to hover over them, I need time every day to be able to spend some of it with each one every single day so that I can be sure they're ok. There's never a day that goes by that each one of them aren't looked at, and given whatever it is they need that day. I don't think I'd be bitter, it's husband who may end up that way. We both remember when I said I would never take in another long lived species other than a dog. After I said that we took in 4 of the 5 box, the tortoise, the lizard, and the bird. However... the tortoise & the bird are 2 that HE decided were not leaving here. He's a sucker for them too, he just doesn't like to admit it. lol

>>
>>I used to work at a vet, so people would bring me tons of hurt turtles and even those they didn't want anymore. They seemed to think that I had an endless supply of food and housing for turtles. I had to start turning them away. Then, I found that I really enjoyed helping to find good homes for turtles that truly did need rescueing. I placed one blind juvenile box turtle with a little 8 year old girl. She was so enthusiastic about the turtle, she researched for months while the turtle healed from its wounds in my care. (It's head had been nearly crushed by a car...an amazing story of recovery!). I still receive updates from her and the turtle is doing famously. You may want to consider helping to find these hatchlings good homes instead of taking them yourself. Sorry for the long post.

Don't worry about post length, I'm more guilty of being long winded than you are. LOL
That's so neat about the kid who adopted the blind turtle from you. It's great when adoption works out isn't it?

If any of these eggs hatch, that's exactly what my vet will do- adopt most of them out, probably keep one for herself. She takes in & adopts out all sorts of animals all the time. I don't have the room she has. We just got a new tank for the mud turtle, got his new "furniture" in but right now he's still not in his new home because we're still fiddling around with where to put all this new stuff. We're going to have to rearrange some furniture & move the tarantulas to another spot so he can take over the spot they're in. The vet wants me to have a hatchling for me, I kind of want to do that because they are so beautiful but it's another set up & another turtle who can't live with any of the others sooo, we'll just have to see & there's still no guarantee that any of these eggs will hatch.
Even though I can't decide right now, I want to learn more about them, then if it happens or not either way I've still learned something more about another turtle species.
Learning something new is a good thing no matter what.
Thanks for finding the links. I'll take a look at them.
-----
PHRatz

kensopher May 11, 2006 05:25 PM

Here are some more links. Some are very vague, and I think you already saw one of them. Good luck with your decision.

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-caowood.htm

http://reptilecity.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=reptiles&Product_Code=COWT&Category_Code=TURTLES

http://centralpets.com/php/PrintFriendly.php?AnimalNumber=2639

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/PDFS/Rhinoclemmys%20pulcherrima.pdf#search='ornate%20wood%20turtle'

PHRatz May 14, 2006 11:59 AM

I looked at the links then put them in my favorite places & we'll see what happens. From the info given in the care sheets, know I could do this, even handle the need for higher humidity.

We've been devastated this weekend, our beloved 12 year old weenie dog passed away from a heart condition that couldn't be fixed. Even the vet was crying with us because she couldn't save him and she had to put him down because he was suffering. He had a large mass on his heart that was inoperable.

After all of us crying all weekend this morning I finally told my DH what the vet had said nearly a week ago about the turtle eggs that may hatch, that she'd said one is mine.
He didn't bat an eye.. he wouldn't care if I took one so if they do hatch then I'll be getting one.
It won't be long either before we have a new puppy. We can't stand not hearing dog toenails on the kitchen floor. Death is part of life we know that, but it's still difficult no matter what.

Gee Happy Mother's Day....
-----
PHRatz

kensopher May 14, 2006 01:51 PM

Gosh, Ratz, I'm so sorry. I hate to hear that. I know how both you and your vet feel. I never got used to that, even after working at a vet's office for so long. I can tell how much you bond with your animals. It's a great thing, but causes us so much pain in the end. I'm sure you, like me, wouldn't trade it for the world. People always used to say, "I'm so upset, I don't think I'll ever get another ____". I'm glad you're going to get a new puppy. And, I'm glad you're taking that turtle. It'll have a great home! If it wouldn't upset you too much, take a gander at my little staffie, Zeke. I put some pics of him in my photo album. I told my wife that if anything ever happened to him, she'll have to commit me.

I'm sorry this is off of the topic of this forum.

PHRatz May 17, 2006 12:15 PM

>>Gosh, Ratz, I'm so sorry. I hate to hear that. I know how both you and your vet feel. I never got used to that, even after working at a vet's office for so long. I can tell how much you bond with your animals. It's a great thing, but causes us so much pain in the end. I'm sure you, like me, wouldn't trade it for the world.

Ken thank you so much & I have to say that you completely understand what we've been feeling. It's like you are a mind reader. I've worked for several vets too & have never gotten used to it either. I've been teaching part time, I'd rather do that than deal with being in a hospital situation.

>>>People always used to say, "I'm so upset, I don't think I'll ever get another ____". I'm glad you're going to get a new puppy.

That is my parents to a T. Our family dog died in the late '70s & they have never gotten another pet of any kind since. I can see how especially now in their older years they would benefit so much from it but no. They will not do it.
We on the other hand made the decision that the new one will be here ASAP. You cannot replace a pet, no two are ever the same but we have so much to give to another that we have to give it.
We don't know where the new one is coming from yet but we gave the last one such a good life, we have more good lives to give to not just another dog.. but yes BACK ON TOPIC, another turtle... IF those ornate wood turtle eggs do hatch. I will be seeing the vet this afternoon, I'll be sure to tell her today that if they hatch then DH is agreeable to getting one.

>>>And, I'm glad you're taking that turtle. It'll have a great home! If it wouldn't upset you too much, take a gander at my little staffie, Zeke. I put some pics of him in my photo album. I told my wife that if anything ever happened to him, she'll have to commit me.
>>
>>I'm sorry this is off of the topic of this forum.

It's not too painful, I'd love to see Zeke but I got lost while searching for his photos.. could you post the link?

I have a lot to look forward to now, another dog, a possible ornate wood turtle, and in the next few months a couple of new rats too.
Having something to look forward to is a huge help right now!
-----
PHRatz

PHRatz May 18, 2006 09:15 AM

Yesterday I was at the vet's for various reasons & was looking at the DBT that is hers.. then found out something I'd missed before.
The ornate wood turtles did not belong to the vet, they were there temporarily because a group of children had been in for a tour.
I said to her "you know the ornate wood..." before I finished my sentence she said "you are so getting one!!"
Then she explained that they had not actually laid any eggs while at her hospital, they'd already laid some eggs before they got there for the children to see & those eggs are being incubated right now by their owner.
Chances for these eggs to hatch are much higher than I originally thought.

My mistaken thoughts were that the vet had just gotten them in to be her own pets & then they began to lay eggs. My thoughts were with all the stress of a new home they likely wouldn't hatch but no they had laid eggs in the comfort of their home before visiting the vet.
Oh my, this really may happen.
Good thing I saved the large Sterilite plastic box that the painted moved out of because I may need it! LOL
-----
PHRatz

Site Tools