r/turtles • u/No-Flight-4214 • 3h ago
Discussion Researchers determine 12 times is excessive number to force turtles to watch Titanic.
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“I’m flying Jack!”
r/turtles • u/Castoff8787 • Mar 20 '25
It is hatchling season!
They are coming out of their overwinter nests and going to sources of water. If you find one in an odd place or somewhere unsafe and are unsure, please contact your state wildlife and ask them what to do. Most can actually be left where they are, to their own devices. If they are found in the middle of the road, for example, move them to the side they are facing.
Taking any turtles home, that are found in the wild, hurts the ecosystem. The only exception to this would be invasive species in your state. You can contact your state wildlife to see what your laws are regarding possession of invasive turtles like red eared sliders.
r/turtles • u/wonkywilla • Jan 18 '25
Turtles do not grow according to their tank size. They will grow regardless of the tank size. This myth is commonly shared by scummy sellers trying to make a sale by marketing turtles as easy or compact pets. They are not, and never will be.
That does not, nor will it ever, justify keeping a turtle in a too-small tank for all of it's life. Whether that turtle lives for one, or 75 years. Whether wild or captive bred.
Things that do affect turtle size and growth rates:
- Poor husbandry practices, such as:
- Congenital malformations or conditions
- Underlying illnesses
Please report any comments or posts condoning the use of small enclosures. (Ex: a half full 20 gallon for a species that will commonly grow to be 7-10 inches in length.) As well as any comments suggesting that turtles will only grow according to the size of their tank. As most of us know, that is not true.
Thank you.
r/turtles • u/No-Flight-4214 • 3h ago
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“I’m flying Jack!”
r/turtles • u/Samudra_art • 40m ago
r/turtles • u/morrison720 • 5h ago
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Lenny is about 6 years old, and I swear I’ve done calcium, the UV lights, the proper diet and all the things I read about prior to getting him. I live in Central Europe, so he’s really only outside for about half of the year at most. The other half he’s in the garage with what I think is appropriate lighting and heating. I’m pretty distraught about the extent of the bumpiness of his shell and I don’t know why it’s happened. The only thing I can think of is humidity, because his enclosure idiots is probably pretty dry.
So two questions:
How bad is his shell? Anything I can do differently going forward?
Thanks so much tortoise people!
r/turtles • u/mmondo13 • 8h ago
Hi I’m possibly taking a turtle in from someone and they think it’s a few years old and a Ouachita Map Turtle… any ideas? Thanks!
I’m located in Illinois.
r/turtles • u/Next-Mess5625 • 1d ago
Hello
This turtle is 50 plus years old and spent a good deal of time in a classrom.
She seems happy but i do have some concerns. She went to the vet before i got her and i was told shes healthy.
My concerns questions
-can she be knocked out and her nails trimmed way back as the curl from years without proper dirt rocks. Just seems to me it cant be comfortable fornher as is.
-her shell has some real roughs spots. Is / was that from lack of vitimans etc?
-she seems comfortable being moved outside or held. Has hissed twice but never "box"s the net said she may be overweight if she doesnt.
-besides letting her roam how often do you pet or hang out with your turtle?
-i was told they didnt let her hibernate. Outside also has a heatlamp but im in PNW and wonder if cold fresh air may harm her
I have the shell light and a proper heat lamp as recommended and will be using coconut mix instead of the paper but figured let her get used to the new home with her old surroundings.
I just want to give her a good life. And have found varied opinions about everything
r/turtles • u/R4N4B4N4N4 • 1d ago
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Hello, could someone help me? This turtle belonged to my mother and, now that I moved to a house, I decided to bring her to take care of her. It has many white (and even green) spots on the hull, does anyone know if it's normal? I noticed that she has the skin of her neck and paws peeling. Is she just "canging her skin and hoof"?
She is a very active turtle, spends most of her time walking around the house and garden, has free access. I put a lake for her on my patio, but she never enters it! I need to put her there at night to feed. I'm giving my own food to turtles only.
I brought her to my house to improve her quality of life, can anyone help me? Oh, and I don't know if it's female or male, but it's 22cm long.
r/turtles • u/juiceandflowersmami • 1d ago
My 7 month old map turtle used to eat her sticks without a problem, and I gave her some chicken breast or shrimp like 2- 3 times a week, plus some greens 3-4 times a week.
I was following the same routine and she’s growing perfectly but out of nowhere she’s refusing to eat her sticks!
What do I do?
I changed brands just in case but nope, won’t eat those sticks either :(
Help?
r/turtles • u/valleyzen • 1d ago
Hi there. I had desert tortoises as a kid living in New Mexico. Had a huge pen for them with all their needs. Now I am an adult in Los Angeles with a huge backyard with lush foliage, lots of shade parts and sun parts, running fountains, and would definitely have space for turtle(s) once again. I saw a red eared tortoise at the animal shelter and almost got it but I learned (or was told by Petco person) they need: UV light, heat lamp, a thermometer, a dry place to bask, a wet place to get back in, and that they'd mostly hid under the lowest placed shelter in the pond; and even then I'd need to bring them in from December to March. Seemed like a lot but understandable.
Is there a particular species of turtle that would be happy in Los Angeles (San Fernando Valley) climate if it had a carefully designed environment in terms of burrowing, bugs, plant life, sun/shade, water features, or not? I feel like I have the space (and means) to create turtle paradise. Any particular one(s) that I could start looking for?
If it matters: we don't have raccoons or possums; just squirrels during the day time; some mice along the back fence; lots of birds but rarely predators or raptors, just an occasional coopers hawk nearby and some owls during some seasons. No cats really in the backyard, but some do live feral in the neighborhood. We have dogs. Two wouldn't care and I'd train the third younger one. But also, we could build a fairly large pen with protective space.
Sorry this was long. Just wanted to help anyone help us. Might not be possible; but worth asking. Thanks in advance.
r/turtles • u/csdude5 • 23h ago
I'm in western NC, zone 7A. It's been in the high-80s low-90s.
A snapping turtle has made himself at home in my goldfish pond for the last several years, and this year I began explicitly feeding him because (a) I wanted to protect my fish and (b) turtles are cool. He was pretty friendly, coming up to me and following me around.
Yesterday he didn't come up to eat, and again no show today.
It feels too late for them to be mating, and too early for hibernation. Is this normal behavior, though?
r/turtles • u/JediiForceKin • 1d ago
r/turtles • u/HeavyFerret3776 • 2d ago
Took a photo of this turtle in a river, please help me identify what type of turtle this is. It was in the upper central Michigan USA.
r/turtles • u/Sad-Guarantee-8529 • 1d ago
Can anyone tell what species is of this turtle or tortoise . And what should be the diet and routine we should give to him .
r/turtles • u/Conscious_conifer • 2d ago
Found this source that seems explanatory. There even is a section that explains why certain lamps (even some popular ones) should not be used for reptiles. So I want to share it just in case if anyone else is interested.

r/turtles • u/wee_wee_fairy_peak • 2d ago
I use 6%, she is going into her new 500l tank soon, the topper is 3ft x 4ft so I need a bigger T5. One source says 12%, the other says 6%. What are we saying here?
r/turtles • u/Perfect-Guitar-2444 • 3d ago
I purchased a red bellied side neck turtle last week and i’m just wondering if his/her set up is okay? It is only about 2-3 months old so i’m not raising the water level too much yet but as he grows i will upgrade. I’m yet to see him use the basking dock but im hoping that he is still getting use to it and that is why he isn’t using it. He absolutely loves his piece of driftwood that i put in he uses it all the time and sleeping around it at night so i know thats his favourite area of the tank. I also have some salvinia and amazon frogbit in the tank and he loves eating them and also making a mess lol. (I’m hoping its a boy)🤞
r/turtles • u/No_Stuff_7501 • 3d ago
I got the turtle from a relative who had apparantly got her from Thailand. But this was 10 years ago so I'm not sure about the authenticity of this story itself lol. The turtle was given to me as my relative was sick and could no longer take care of it. The first picture is how it looks now and the second picture is how it looked in 2019 when I first got it. And sorry for the 2nd pic being terrible quality,I took it with my old tablet.
r/turtles • u/TurtleGuy15216 • 4d ago
My lil baby turtle
r/turtles • u/KingLeitz • 4d ago
r/turtles • u/Affectionate-Use6412 • 4d ago
Got to meet Green Sea turtles and Aldabra tortoise today in Nassau! Love them :)
r/turtles • u/hyunchris • 4d ago
Does anyone know where I can adopt a musk turtle in illinois, Wisconsin, I'd probably even drive to Indiana for it.