Any Reptilian caretakers?

[Sundays Man]

Last night Diane and I came home only to find a terapin under my car. He was just sitting there, out of the rain. We put him in a little box as a shelter and had it so he could get out if he wanted to. This morning when we opened the gargage door to go and tend to the herd, there he was, sitting at the door waiting on us. I picked him up and he has a discharge coming from his nostrils. Poor thing has a cold or something I guess. I put him in the flower bed and when I went out just now to see if he is still there, he was. Only difference was he had just buried himself in the pine straw. I almost didn't see him. Is there anything that could be given to him to help with his sickness? Whatever causes a turtle/tortoise to have a runny nose. These little critters live for a lot of years if they stay healthy and I've always liked having them around the property. It's almost like he came here for us to help him and won't go away.

[HeartofSteel]

I don't know much about turtles but here is a link that may help: http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/commondisease.html

It says towards the bottom that Teramycin drops could help and I know you can find those about anywhere around here

[SedonaThunder]

Does anyone have JohnsWife's (Ronni) email address? I'd say you should log on to h.com and PM her... but I don't know if the PM's work or not. Good luck to the little guy and I agree that he came to you for help.:)

[Sundays Man]

Thanks Sedona and HPH. It looks like I may be too late. I went out and pulled him out from under the straw to put him in a box so I could treat him and warm him and he looks like he may have died. He is inside his shell, but just the nose is sticking out and eyes closed. I can't get any type of movement or reaction so I will just watch for a while to see if he is playing possum or dead. Wish I could have helped the little guy. They eat lots of insect pests and are just neat little critters.

[Sundays Man]

TIME OUT!!! He is still with us. I see he is coming out of his shell to take a look around at his new pad. Maybe he was just wet and cold. I'll see what I can do for him. It's not cold out, but a little damp chill in the air after all the rain and a cool front.

[SedonaThunder]

WOOHOOOOO! I'm almost embarrassed to say this but when I read your last post I had big alligator tears... I've never even met the little guy but I think it bothered me that he'd been looking for you and found you too late. I actually walked away from the computer and took a minute to send a prayer for a swift and painfree passing or strength to hold on - whichever was the right thing for him. I am so glad to hear that he is still with you... and I look forward to pictures of him.:)

[HeartofSteel]

Yay! Hang out little turtle, you can do it! Did you bring him inside?

[Sundays Man]

Yes he is inside now. Sedona, I got in touch with Ronni and she has given me advise...thanks very much. I found out from her, that once you take them in, you should not turn them back out:mad:. They pick up bacteria, etc from us that can be passed to others of their kind. Oh well. Guess I better go get a box of worms for him. The warmth in the house seems to have revived him a bit. I'll send pics later when he is able to sit up and take a little nourishment:).

Ohh, and sorry I scared ya. He sure looked dead to me for a while.

[SedonaThunder]

I got in touch with Ronni and she has given me advise... thanks very much. I found out from her, that once you take them in, you should not turn them back out:mad:. They pick up bacteria, etc from us that can be passed to others of their kind.

YAAAAY Ronni - I knew she'd be able to help! It's too bad he can't go back to "the wild" now but hey, alive and with humans is better than dead with your kind.:)

P.S. Did you invite Ronni to join us? I really like her.

[carla]

Do what??? I used to pick turtles up when I was little, and put them back down.. wait, wouldn't that be the same thing? :huh:

[Sundays Man]

O.K. Here he is in some of his glory. I gave him a warm soak like Johnswife said too, put a little top soil and such in a little box and set him in the sun. He is beginning to perk up a little and just stuck his head out to say hello.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=28&pictureid=588

[carla]

Woah. He's really cool looking!

[Sundays Man]

Woah. He's really cool looking!

Heeeyyy, wait a minute, I may have just found a home for this guy:D.

A fenced back yard is a perfect place, yeeeaaah that's the ticket.

J/K:):)

[carla]

Ha haa.. you're funny. I had thought, "don't let LK see this," and at the same time remembered how our neighbor has her kids' turtle aquarium hidden in her shrubs out front because of the horrible smells coming from it. :puke:

Ya, no thanks.

[Sundays Man]

Ahhh, that's better.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=28&pictureid=589

CarCar, they don't stink if you let them run wild in the yard. The fence just keeps 'em in the yard. You might have to throw some crickets, worms or fruit to 'em occasionally.

[carla]

Hmmmm... he does like the pics. ;) But what would it do all winter? What do turtles do in the winter? :huh:

[starkitten]

He is way cute ;) Sounds like someone became a turtle owner :)

[mlle_beau]

Hmmmm... he does like the pics. ;) But what would it do all winter? What do turtles do in the winter? :huh:

They hibernate!

[WashingtonBay]

Any Reptilian caretakers?I keep seeing this headline and picturing something like this guy.... maybe with a broom. :cool:

[Sundays Man]

I keep seeing this headline and picturing something like this guy.... maybe with a broom. :cool:

:hysterical: Yes, I can see why you would WB.

[WashingtonBay]

Or a toolbelt. :D

Cool turtle though! I sure hope he makes it OK at carla's place. :)

[Sundays Man]

Yeah, I like his yellow face and red eyes. Reminds me of me on some of my morinings when I was much younger.:)

[carla]

They hibernate!

LOL, yeah, once I really thought about that one while talking to SM earlier, that did make sense. It's just something I never thought about, ya know? Hibernation of turtles.. :doh:

So I guess we'll se how he does for a few days (I'm sure after the posh accommodations at Diane/SM's place, he'll have culture shock when he's thrown in my back yard) and then maybe make the move.

I still don't get the whole "you can't let him go back" theory. Mind you I know nothing about all of this (obviously!) but that makes no sense to me. Like I said, I picked turtles up all the time when I was little (and now if I ever see one) and I didn't notice any mass dropoffs in turtle population.. :confused: