Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok ... I got this baby painted ... I believe it is a midland, but almost fits the descript of western too! His plastron is almost white but has a very ornate marking in the middle that looks like a baboons face ... The woman I got him from said that they had had them (there was 2) for atleast 6 or 7 months, but he's only like 3 inches front to back. He got very inactive 1-2 weeks ago and now just lays in his basking area. I took him outside yesterday and he went crazy, it was the first time I'd seen him move around in a while. I've got guppies in his tank with him right now and I think he's had one ... I'm also feeding reptomin baby and blood worms. Also the end of his carapace has gotten soft. I think he might be shedding ... is this normal shedding behavior? Is it possible since his area isn't new anymore he misses his old tank mate?? Please help!!! This guy is sooo much prettier than my razorback musk and I DON'T want to loose him!! ... if u want a picture I can get one!!! Thanks!!

Scared for his life in NY!

Hmm a pic would help. 3 inches is not a baby turtle a size of a quarter is a baby turtle. Try some live plants, or romaine lettuce and a pic of your setup would be good as well. And check out this site http://www.turtletimes.com/Forums/

How do I put up pictures here??

Either go to photobucket and upload the pic there and put the http link here or you can upload it on kingsnakes photo gallery.

OK!!! got it!!! In the picture labeled 'turtlebutt' the softest part of the shell is right above where my thumb is. I believe the turtle to be a midland, but it might be a western. He is more active when outside or left on a desk under a regular lamp. The tank is only a 10 gallon, but it's all I had at the time ... I can easily get ahold of a 30 gallon tall, but don't have a water heater stong enough for somthing that size ...

thanks again!!
PhotoBucket link!

I don't think he looks like a western.
I don't know if you can see the pattern very well in this photo (below) but mine is a western.

Try some live whole minnows, they're packed with calcium, that'll stave off a soft shell.. and keep in mind when hatchlings are small the shell isn't extremely hard until they get closer to a year old.
Mine is 12 years old, he was raised on live fish, live crickets, several types of worms and some pellet. Painteds in general don't care as much for veggies as RES do. I make a food for mine with veggies hidden in it, that's the only way I can get him to eat them.
Give him lots of sunlight, a wide variety of foods, he should do well for you.

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PHRatz

Mine looks just like that, only the pattern is smaller and he's not red ... He is smaller than 3 inches, but the woman that had him before me had him for 6-7 months ... so he's atleast 8 months old ... I've got guppies in the tank with him ... but it's hard to tell if they're dieing or being eaten. I don't exactly have anything to keep crickets in ... and my live-in g/f thinks they are CREEPY ... I've tried earthworms but he just kinda snubs to them ... I've been taking him outside for atleast an hour a day for the past 3 days ... when he's outside he acts better ... I put him into a 30 gallon tank last night w/ alot more water ... he seems to be doing better ... I'm pretty sure he's shedding ... the corners and sides of his scutes (??) are peeling up. He rubs at his head/eyes/nose alot. He's been assuming the regular basking position (atleast some times) instead of just laying there. I think he's getting better ...

Usualy painteds don't like to be taken out of the water only to lay eggs will they venture out. Fill that tank up with water!! the more water to swim in the better, painteds are good swimmers.

I've got him in a 30 gallon now ... been having him out in the sun for 1-2 a day ... shell is harder ... he looks healthier ... except for the fact that I came home from work today and his eye lids are swollen ... possible that I didn't put enough conditioner in his new tank? Will Vitamin E help for this too?? VERY swollen!!! Please help!!

>>I've got him in a 30 gallon now ... been having him out in the sun for 1-2 a day ... shell is harder ... he looks healthier ... except for the fact that I came home from work today and his eye lids are swollen ... possible that I didn't put enough conditioner in his new tank? Will Vitamin E help for this too?? VERY swollen!!! Please help!!

Ok he needs to see a vet now, as soon as possible.
You said the woman you got him from had him for several months, it sounds like she's given you a sick turtle so this is not your fault but he does need a vet right now.
Eyes swollen shut, 99 percent of the time this is the result of long term poor nutrition but now he's probably going into pneumonia and he needs prescription medication for this.
Soft shell is also the result of long term poor nutrition so if you get treatment, then put him on a good diet along with lots of sunshine or full spectrum reptile lighting, there's a good chance he can get over this & live a long life.
Good luck!
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PHRatz

Came home from work yesterday and he was dead ...

>>Came home from work yesterday and he was dead ...

That's a shame, sorry to hear it.
I hope the woman you got him from either stops keeping turtles or lifts a finger to learn something useful about the right way to keep them.
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PHRatz

She's trying ... they were technically her husbands. He used to own the local pet shop, and when it went under he stopped caring ... I don't know that much about them, but I told her the one that she kept needed a heat lamp and that ADULT food wasn't going to cut it ... I gave her some of my reptibaby and my sulfa soak ... from what I understand the other one is doing good.