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Turtles/Questions Answered by Expert Mick
| Subject | Date Asked |
| eating habit | 11/14/2011 |
| Q: hey i have one star tortoise.. now a days he eats cucumber is it ok?? and other thing i wana ask ... A: You're going to have to be more specific. What housing are you keeping the tortoise in? Do you have ... | |
| turtle filter with worms | 11/12/2011 |
| Q: I'm curious as to what a very tiny black looking worm infesting only my filters and not found else ... A: You're going to have to be more specific and include a picture. If you read about a parasite, then ... | |
| RES not eating. | 11/11/2011 |
| Q: species: RES. habitat size: 8 gal substrate: none humidity: bask/ambient temps: water temp: ... A: Frankly it doesn't sound like you've done much research. Some aquatic turtles can be enticed to ... | |
| turtle | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: I am one of the turtle experts. Most of my old answers about them were under reptiles. Anyway , I ... A: I did get it, but for reason of education to the public online, I prefer to answer these questions ... | |
| Sulcata tortoise shell question | 9/11/2011 |
| Q: I have a female sulcata for over a year now. She is around 7 to 8 years old I believe. I have ... A: This is a carapace fracture. A serious matter. The shell is living bone. This can lead to bone ... | |
| tank for water turtle | 9/9/2011 |
| Q: We need a new tank for my son's water turtle (red-eared slider). She is getting so big and has way ... A: The nonsensical-ness of it then would be even more pronounced than a suggestion that it was a ... | |
| Buying and caring for a turtle | 8/20/2011 |
| Q: I'm going to the state fair next week and I want to buy a turtle, What is the best kind to buy if I ... A: My answer would be do your research and know these things yourself a wee bit earlier than a week ... | |
| Pinkish worms in my red eared slider's poop | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: So just two days ago i saw a little worm looking thing float across my red eared sliders tank. At ... A: Yes, any parasites poses a threat, especially to a baby. They can cause gastric impaction, ... | |
| tortoise | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could identify what kind of tortoise I have? My friend found it by Kaiser ... A: It's a Desert Tortoise. Federally protected as an ENDANGERED SPECIES. That means you commit a ... | |
| herman tortoise | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: My 3yr old Herman appears to have gone into hibernation. I bath him to try to rally him round, he ... A: "Everything is as it should be" is useless information frankly. You must quantify if you want anyone ... | |
| Turtle Injuries | 8/16/2011 |
| Q: Turtle: Red Eared Slider. Habitat: Simple plastic tank, big enough for 2, a few rock's so they can ... A: Your background history is vague rather than providing actual details. If you are going to provide ... | |
| tank for water turtle | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: We need a new tank for my son's water turtle (red-eared slider). She is getting so big and has way ... A: No, there is no such thing as such a hormone as that. Who ever told you that is a freaking idiot. If ... | |
| My soon to be Turtle | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: My friend is most likely bringing me a turtle from Florida and I live in Ohio. What should I put in ... A: Glad to help someone who didn't even know what species they were getting, yet expected someone else ... | |
| My soon to be Turtle | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: My friend is most likely bringing me a turtle from Florida and I live in Ohio. What should I put in ... A: You can research most of this online, on your own. There are tons of freshwater turtle websites. Not ... | |
| yellow bellied turtles | 6/11/2011 |
| Q: i have 2 yellow bellied turtles that we have had for about 5 or six years now.they are on their 4th ... A: Well, I have to say this is one of my pet peeves and why I don't believe in reptiles as pets for ... | |
| Silcata injury | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: So my 12 yr old silcatas brain is telling him to dig. We have an Acre of land in southern California ... A: I think you mean "sulcata", and tunneling is what they do naturally. This is their nature, and I ... | |
| Soft undershell | 5/27/2011 |
| Q: I have a Hermann tort about 2 and a half years of age. I check the shell every few weeks for soft ... A: I would recommend a vet experienced with tortoises because you have not followed the instructions ... | |
| outdoor turtle | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I found a turtle shell in my pond there were 6 soft brown oval eggs in it. What happened to the ... A: Could you send a picture. No if they were viable eggs they would not survive underwater. Eggs must ... | |
| Found a turtle???? | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: well i really wanna keep the turtle. ill return it if i hav to. is there anyway to get it out of ... A: Return it to the same place, preferably the same time of day. Inexperienced people should not be ... | |
| My Desert Tortoise | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I was thinking about taking him to a vet and I will if I need to. He is very close to being two ... A: Desert Tortoise? Where are you located first of all, and where did you get it? I need to know the ... | |
| my painted turtle | 11/1/2010 |
| Q: what is the eyesight for a painted turtle? how far can they see? A: They have very good eye sight if nothing is wrong with them. They depend on their eyes when they are ... | |
| RES taken to vet and wont eat or bask | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: Red eared Slider, 3.3 lbs, 4 yrs old, 100 gallon tank(1/4 full), no substrate, humidity % unknown, ... A: This is going to take some in depth analysis. I would prefer to continue of you emailed me further ... | |
| turtle eggs | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: how do i know if my turtle is pregnant A: You won't unless you know what to look for behavior wise or know how to palpate the eggs. She may be ... | |
| can box turtles and whites tree frogs live together? | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: i have a 20 gallon long tank with some plants and a water bowl. Can a small box turtle only about ... A: No. The box turtle should not even be in a tank this small. Box turtles are highly intelligent and ... | |
| RES Turtle- health problem- help | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I'm really desperate and hope you could help me i really want to save my turtle. I have a RES baby i ... A: No vitamin A injections. Yes, they can be deadly. Especially a turtle this small. What you need to ... | |
| spurred tortoise | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: i have two dogs that have fleas my backyard has fleas and aunts and other not like able bugs and ... A: Kill everything except Spike? Well, you are starting with the wrong idea if you want to eradicate ... | |
| wild yellow-bellied slider | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: A female yellow-bellied slider laid a clutch of eggs very close to our house on the river. Although ... A: The babies will hatch whenever they are ready. This could be day or night. They will likely remain ... | |
| overheated tortoise | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: Help! I had my russian tortoise outside in a crate I realized the sun was on him for over 1 hour I ... A: Yes....take him to a vet! This forum is not for emergencies. You are not a vet, and refusal to do ... | |
| African Sideneck Turtles | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: I can't answer the Mandatory Questions as I do not have the turtle yet I only have my 550 gallon ... A: I have never kept African Side Necks, so I can't really help with ID any better than you could ... | |
| alligator snapping turtle | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: How long does it take an alligator snapping turtle to reach 4 inches? A: Reach 4 inches...in length? Depends...can I ask why? Depending on where you are, you could be ... | |
| tortoise laid eggs on the ground | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a 9 year old, approx 17", healthy female geochelone sulcata, outdoor enclosure approx 11x8ft ... A: I would bring them in that are laid above ground because they won't survive, and use and incubator, ... | |
| Injured (appears to be) box turtle shell | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: I found an rather large turtle; that has been struck by a car. There is an 2-3 inch tear in front of ... A: This website allows for pictures. Rehabbing a car hit turtle is not something I can instruct someone ... | |
| Central American Wood Turtle Diet specifics | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: .. I just read .your answer from another turtle owner. My question is; is there a more specific list ... A: Kind of hard to recommend a "more specific" food list, because you didn't list with specificity what ... | |
| russian tortoise | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: Is mulch safe to use for my tortoises bedding? A: What kind of mulch? Where did you get it? Some mulches contain chemicals to rid them of insects, ... | |
| yellowbelly turtle can he survive a winter in ohio pond | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a yellowbelly turtle that is to big for his tank. I was going to release him into my sister ... A: That's completely irresponsible. There is a reason that yellow bellies aren't native to Ohio. You ... | |
| Res | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: Sorry or the trouble. I have a RES and he just died. He was a baby and he started to get white ... A: I'm sorry your RES died. Unfortunately your description and background is not detailed enough to ... | |
| res broken nails and spots | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: i have a red eared slider about 5 to 6 cm.. he lives in an aquarium abou 1.5 feet long, it also has ... A: What is the temperature of the basking site? Is the water temp 27C? Filtration is necessary for ... | |
| My Red Ear SWEET Turtle Tuti (Female) | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: First GOD will award You helping us and guiding us for the Utmost best care of these helpless ... A: I am placing myself on vacation because I have rescue acitivities to do. You will have to email me ... | |
| My Red Ear SWEET Turtle Tuti (Female) | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: First GOD will award You helping us and guiding us for the Utmost best care of these helpless ... A: You need to post a follow up and provide the information in my instructions, or I cannot help and ... | |
| Which worms are most nutritious? | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I have two eastern painted turtles about 2 years old. My vet recommended that I feed them worms but ... A: You didn't follow the rules completely. There is a lot missing here. You mention vet, but are these ... | |
| My turtles | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: i have two red eared sliders, one a male one a femail they are 5 and half inches long (male) and ... A: Not offended, just setting the record straight. Red eared sliders are impossible to find homes for. ... | |
| Water turtle | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: My turtle has a loose scale but it is bleeding an I really don't know what to do there is rawness ... A: You should take it to a vet. I don't care what the excuse is. You can find a vet who will see it, ... | |
| breeding different types of terrapins | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: i have a yellow bellied slider and a black knobbed sawback terrapin both are under a year old. the ... A: Both of these aquatic turtles are native here in the states, and there is hybridization in the wild ... | |
| painted turtle | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: we found a painted turtle last summer, it's shell is 5 inches long my question to you is. can I ... A: Yes, you can feed too much. You can also feed so many feeder fish that you kill it with thiaminase ... | |
| My turtles | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: i have two red eared sliders, one a male one a femail they are 5 and half inches long (male) and ... A: First, I am a professional. I am nearly a full time wildlife rehabber and reptile rescuer, with 23 ... | |
| Re eared slider ,indian tent ,indian star tortoise | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a pair of sliders under 2 inches ,who only eat the worms my fish eat ,also have kept them in ... A: Keeping sliders with the fish may be safe for the sliders, but not necessarily the fish. Though I ... | |
| breeding different types of terrapins | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: i have a yellow bellied slider and a black knobbed sawback terrapin both are under a year old. the ... A: Black Knobbed "Map turtle". They may mate, and produce offspring, though they should not be allowed ... | |
| algae | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: Mick, I have a twenty gallon tank with numerous hatchlings >6 mos old. I have UVB and UVA lighting ... A: I'd have to know what chemical is in the algaecide, but I would tend to stay away from introduction ... | |
| flakey substance on turtles neck and legs | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: red ear slider about 9 mos. 20 gal fish tank, 6 in water, 74 degree water temp, uvb lighting spot I ... A: Sounds like normal shedding. If it appears continual or wide spread, it may indicate fungal or ... | |
| tortoise breathing | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: I very recently got a bell's hingeback tortoise but I already am a bit worried about it. It lives in ... A: Yes, you should be concerned. Yes, you should be using UVB lighting. If I have to say that, then ... | |
| Turtle Injuries | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: I have had a turtle for 4 years, and I recently found a smaller turtle last Fall. My bigger turtle ... A: You should have never picked up and tried to keep the smaller one anyway. I'm a wildlife rescuer, ... | |
| Painted Turtle | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: I own a 3 yr old painted turtle and a 2 yr old red eared slider. Recently, I found a scute from the ... A: No, it is not enough info. Please ask you question again new, and pay attention to the instructions ... | |
| Painted turtle's scute has turned brown | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: First, I have searched for hours on your site and others for an answer to my question without luck, ... A: A picture would help. Check my profile for my webpage links and get in touch with me that way, with ... | |
| Yellow Belly Sliders Odd behaviour | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 female YBS in good condition about 5 years of age and very friendly, always come when I go ... A: That's a great habitat you have. I commend you. The obvious answer is that anytime a female is ... | |
| Normal behavior questions on cuttlebone, carapace, and eyes | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: I've read that tortoises love their cuttlebone, but ever since I've been with Rory(my baby leopard ... A: Get back to me by email ( phrynosoma_texas@yahoo.com ) with pictures of the shell and eyes. I can't ... | |
| Red Ear Slider Aggression | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I have two Red Ear Sliders that are nine years old. I have one female and one male; the female is ... A: RES females are almost always larger than males. That's basic information. Please research/. Males ... | |
| My turtle hasn't eaten in a week, what should I do? | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: before I ask I'll provide all of the info you need. I have a Midland Painted Turtle. She's in a 13 ... A: First, I am not a fan of catching and keeping wild caught. My advice would be to let it go where you ... | |
| Turtle not moving from over 24 hrs. | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: My box turtle who is a about a 2 inch long is not moving, not opening his eyes from from ... A: I do have instructions which explain the information you are to provide if you want to ask me a ... | |
| Red Eared Slider | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: I found a Red Eared Slider turtle walking across an apartment parking lot. I found it in Ohio and I ... A: Yes, the red eared slider is common to Ohio too. If there is a park with a pond, creek or other ... | |
| biting male turtle | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I just got a new male box turtle and my old male seem to attack, he goes right after and tries to ... A: No, they cannot live together. Males are territorial and the dominant one will only harm the new ... | |
| quick questions. i read your instructions, promise | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: Ok so i work at a pet store and we have this Russian Tortoise thats been with us for about 6 months ... A: No, you have done well. You are asking about an animal in a pet store so I require a little less ... | |
| turtle nest | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: mick...if one finds a turtle nest in a field where one mows, what is the best way to insure not ... A: Great, then this means she definitely laid eggs. That is how they do it. I would suggest clipping ... | |
| box turtle | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a box turtle that I found in my mom's yard while they were landscaping and rescued it from ... A: You are no doubt doing something wrong, because I heard absolutely no mention of UVB lighting. I'm ... | |
| turtle eggs | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I live by a small lake and we have a couple of turtles in it. Yesturday,June 7th, a female laid her ... A: Were the eggs laid on top of the ground or buried? Hatch times vary with species and environment, ... | |
| sulcata babies | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: I have just gotten a sulcata 7 week tortise. I was told that I could use rabbit 75% alfalfa pellets ... A: I don't like sand for juveniles. The pellets may also cause impaction if they are too large, but ... | |
| red ear turtle | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 years old Red Ear turtle weighted 125g and it was found blood discharge from mouth 2 ... A: I would not rule out surgery, but it may be difficult. You would have to anesthetize the turtle and ... | |
| red ear slider turtles | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: I bought two turtles and put them in my pond and they died. I will never get turtles again, because ... A: I'm sorry, I have no idea and there isn't much info to go on. How old were they? It could have ... | |
| Red Eye Sliders Turtle | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I have two turtles and they both have this weird slice along their limbs its sort of red and the ... A: How about a bit more detail huh? I have instructions that are at the top of the page when you ask ... | |
| is my turtle sufficating? | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: i have a red eared slider turtle it lives in a 40 gallon tank i only fill it in half way.i have a ... A: See a vet for one. Nothing I can tell you here will help you save this turtle without you seeing a ... | |
| my turtle needs help | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: my red eared slider turtle opens its mouth as if breathing constantly and white resado spits out of ... A: First thing you need to do - is read my instructions when you ask the question. I have the ... | |
| Can two different aquatic turtles coexsist? | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a baby red ear slider and I was wondering if I would be able to get some different types of ... A: Generally yes they can if from the same region, but habitat and food preferences may differ, and ... | |
| basking | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: jenny will not bask no matter what i do. i get so mad that i buy her all of this basking stuff and ... A: First thing you need to do is read the rules like I went through the trouble to type them, then ... | |
| eye swollen and sore | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: I have a red ear slider well i have 3 all in the same tank 1 has it's eye swollen and sore looking ... A: This turtle will probably die, and maybe the others with it without treatment. Carrot juice and ... | |
| yellow earedslider | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: PLEASE HELP!!!!! my turtle has a soft shell and she is extremely weak and her feet and head flop ... A: Then what do you expect from an internet answer from me? You wrote two sentences and gave me ... | |
| Sleeping | 1/1/2009 |
| Q: I got a horsefield tortoise for my Christmas and it sleeps quite alot. It goes to sleep about 6.00pm ... A: Russian tortoises spend about 9 months of the year in hibernation or estivation, so this is normal. ... | |
| How do I care for an Indian Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga) | 1/1/2009 |
| Q: I am am animal lover living in India. I recently rescued a turtle and after a lot of search on the ... A: Unfortunately, most of my expertise in turtles is limited to domestic North American species, and ... | |
| RES and painted Turtle? | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: At the moment I have a year old Red eared slider in housed in a 75 gallon tank (he is approxamatly 3 ... A: In regard to your RES, it is doubtful he is "just a smaller RES". There is probably a reason if you ... | |
| does he want out | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: a friend found this turtle on the side of the highway in an area turtles are not found. so i work in ... A: Maybe you should provide more background before expecting some kind of miracle answer nitwit. How is ... | |
| greenear slider | 10/6/2008 |
| Q: was given slider turtle about a year ago yesterday noticed the tail was thicker than usual and the ... A: I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as a green eared slider. I'm sure you mean red eared. Could ... | |
| housing western and eatern boxes together | 10/6/2008 |
| Q: Is it ok or bad to house western and eatern boxes together? Cheryl A: Generally it is always bad practice to house different species together, especially if they don't ... | |
| painted turtles | 10/5/2008 |
| Q: I was digging near my garden and dug up baby turles they are the size of a quarter should i put them ... A: A picture would help, but are you sure they are painted turtles, and not baby box turtles? Baby ... | |
| Turtles growing | 10/5/2008 |
| Q: was just wondering, Me ansd my friend are about to get some red eared turtles, can you tell me how ... A: Yeah, don't get any Red Eared Sliders until you know more about them and have some real space. I'm a ... | |
| 3 toed turtles | 10/3/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 female and 2 male, I feel sorry for the females because the males are forever breeding and ... A: Where to start...you need read: anapsid.org/mainchelonians.html aboxturtle.com boxturtlesite.info ... | |
| does he want out | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: a friend found this turtle on the side of the highway in an area turtles are not found. so i work in ... A: If the turtle was found in an area where turtles are not found, then it wouldn't have been found ... | |
| Eastern Box Turtle | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: I have an eastern box turtle, its kept outside during the spring summer months, goes into ... A: If you use an outdoor enclosure it must be built right and offer plenty of burrowing substrate for ... | |
| red eared sliders. | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: I have two red eared sliders, and I saved them from a child, and don't know much about them, but am ... A: Glad to hear it Paul. Yes, I recommend power filters be rated for 1 1/2 - 2 times the volume of ... | |
| red eared sliders. | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: I have two red eared sliders, and I saved them from a child, and don't know much about them, but am ... A: If they were caught from the wild, then return to where they came from is the best thing for them ... | |
| health problem of painted turtle | 6/16/2008 |
| Q: I have a painted turtle, approx 3-4 yrs old. Normally, very active, eats well. Now, sluggish, acts ... A: Sounds like a possible tympanic abscess or mouthrot. You need to get any animal to the vet which is ... | |
| RES | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: i've got some baby (3cm diameter) RES. they spend all day basking and does not want to eat. i have ... A: Neonate turtles may not eat for a week or two following hatching. they may also be stressed during ... | |
| red ear slider | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: I have 3 red ear sliders in a 30gallon tank i have raised turtles all my life i have 7 of them. This ... A: I'm not sure how long "all [your] life" is, but it doesn't mean someone has been doing it right for ... | |
| caring for baby red-eared slider turtles | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: I'm a college student, and when I was moving out of my dorm, some girl was going to abandon these 2 ... A: They may be wild caught hatchlings, in which case the best thing would be that they are released in ... | |
| painted turtles | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: we put them in a paddling pool with the mud and water from the pond(there was a little left)I ... A: I would normally go more in depth on this, but I am going out of town for a couple of days. If you ... | |
| My Tortoise is sick | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: My red-eared slider turtle is sick:It has saliva bubbles around its mouth, has not fed or defecated ... A: 2 weeks is an excessive amount of time to have waited, and I'm not sure if I can help. That depends ... | |
| gold spots on shell of 20 yr old RES | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: I have a 20 yr old female RES that has recently developed gold spots on Carapace. I have had her ... A: I applaud you for having her so long and caring for her instead of dumping her. Turtles are long ... | |
| White bumps around Sulcata eyes... | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: hoping you can shed some light. I have a 3 year old Sulcata tortoise that lives outdoors in the AZ ... A: Sounds like possibly inclusion cysts known as milia. This can happen with excessive UV exposure when ... | |
| red ear slider | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I found a red ear slider that was in our newly built housing addition, yes it was part of a wild ... A: This is basic turtle 101, that's probably why you haven't found it online. It's too basic. You are ... | |
| red ear slider female egg laying | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: i was wondering about egg laying, i have tried research and looking at different sites and even ... A: Look into my previous answers about turtles and egg laying, and incubation. I have a lot listed in ... | |
| rescued baby turtle | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: We have a baby turtle approximately an inch long with yellow spots only encircling the rim of his ... A: Yes, he would need to be quarantined for a while before being accepted by an institution, but that ... | |
| baby turtle | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: i recently got a baby turtle, and am worried that its not eating anything. it doesn't even try to ... A: First, follow my instructions just like they say, and answer all the things the instructions ask ... | |
| Baby box turtle | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: I found a baby turtle today as I was planting my garden. It is about 2" long X 1.75" wide. I know ... A: They do thrive and love gardens. He would be fine there if not for the cats. That is an uncertain ... | |
| humidity | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: How can I make my Sulcatas out door enclosure more humid? A: Well, there are a lot of ways to do that. But, that depends on many different things. The sulcata ... | |
| Aiming to Recoup | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: Your expertise has not and will not go to waste, as I have made a printout of your knowledge and ... A: Phil. If my answers helped you greatly, please consider donating to my reptile rescue ... | |
| Weird WES behavior | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: We have had our RES for about a year. Me is the happiest thing! He plays and basks all day. The ... A: Make sure you keep things in perspective and don't get to anthropomorphic in regards to reptile ... | |
| Juvenile Trouble | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a question! My Concern: Neither of my tortoises are eating very much... Nor are they ... A: ==================================================== OK, Thank you. The ZooMed compact coil should ... | |
| Juvenile Trouble | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a question! My Concern: Neither of my tortoises are eating very much... Nor are they ... A: "But please, the original questions?"? Am I wasting your time by asking you to provide this ... | |
| Juvenile Trouble | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a question! My Concern: Neither of my tortoises are eating very much... Nor are they ... A: I need additional information. Follow up with these specifics: 1. What is your UVA-B lighting ... | |
| upside down turtle | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: i got my turtle about 3 weeks ago so its only small baby from the pet shop, and it has always ... A: Follow up and follow my instructions by provide the rest of the background information as required ... | |
| African Sulcata | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: I hope you dont mind me writing to you about my African Sulcata turtle. My name is Tamara and i've ... A: I don't mind...but you will have to follow the directions and provide all information required in ... | |
| My baby turtles loves to lay by the filter.. | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: my name is nina, about a month or so ago I purchased two baby turtles. One is clearly a red slider ... A: You have a filter rated for only 10 gallons, which means you must have either too small of a tank, ... | |
| housing different breeds | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: i have a male and female russian desert tortoise already and a friend recently gave me a male ... A: As a general rule, I don't recommend keeping 2 different genera together that don't even reside ... | |
| Proper Russian Tortoise Housing | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I have been trying to research a proper way to set up indoor housing for my Russian Tortoise for ... A: Sorry for the delay. A 50 gallon is ok for now, but they obviously do better in an outdoor habitat. ... | |
| turtle's skin has pink hue | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: i have 4 red ears and 1 map turtle sharing a 200 gallon indoor pond. there is no substrate. i have ... A: I would probably need to see a picture of this, but the fact that it affects all of them is ... | |
| painted turtle | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old painted turtle since birth. Today she laid 4 eggs. She has always been alone. ... A: If you've had her since she hatched, and she has never been near another turtle, then the eggs are ... | |
| my river cooter is trying to woo my res | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: I have a River Cooter and a res in the same 100 gallon tank my cooter is fluttering on my RES does ... A: Breeding is possible if one is male and one is female of course, and they are sexually mature. It ... | |
| sick red footed tortoise | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: My 1yr old tort, has not be eating well. I have had him for a week. Just now I went over to his ... A: If you want to ask Mark, then you will have to wait until he is available. If you ask me, then I ... | |
| young map turtle with a white bump | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: We have a young map turtle who has developed a raised white, pussy looking spot on his foot. He is ... A: 20 gallon is pretty small and is going to cause a lot of waste build up, and in turn breed possible ... | |
| what kind of turtle do I have | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: It has yellow strips on it's face. And it has orange on it's arms and legs. The feet look like ... A: It's going to take a lot more than that. That's not enough information. Follow up and include a ... | |
| box turtle | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: I have adopted a box turtle found in front of our house no woods around shell had been painted I ... A: Sorry for the delay, but I have been dealing with eye problems the last 2 days. I will have to ... | |
| hot weather | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: hey summer is coming up and i want to build my turtles a bigger outside habitat...i was wondering ... A: For sliders that should be easy. They are aquatic and just need deep enough water. They only need ... | |
| sick baby redfoot tortoise | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: Hey- I got 2 baby redfoots today. One of the redfoots ate a bit of strawberry today, has clear ... A: Did you just pull these figures from thin air, or did you actually measure them? Guesses aren't good ... | |
| New Wild Red Bellied Turtle | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: Kids just found a little (nickel sized) turtle out at the pond. What do I do first? What should I ... A: What you do is take it back in my honest opinion. I speak for the welfare of the animal, not ... | |
| Size of a 2 year old | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: I was just wondering what the size of a 2 year old red-eared slider should be. My little guy is ... A: Sounds great to me. Our rescued RES is about a year old and covers my palm. Get used to it, because ... | |
| Vitamin A injections? | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a turtle that is sluggish, puffy eyes, swimming sideways, and shedding skin faster than he ... A: Ok, thanks for the info. That helps. Doesn't really matter if you could have provided more info to ... | |
| Vitamin A injections? | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a turtle that is sluggish, puffy eyes, swimming sideways, and shedding skin faster than he ... A: The symptoms you described could be several things other than a respiratory infection. It could be ... | |
| Small Turtles | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: Do you know the names of turtles that only grow less then 4 inches, and where to get them? In the ... A: No, generally speaking I am not aware of any turtle species which grow less than 4" and stay that ... | |
| turtle in pond | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: Can I put my RES turtle in a Koi pond,it has been in a 30 gal tank for about 1.5. indoors, the pond ... A: A Koi pond is an EXCELLENT RES habitat. In fact that it the only kind of habitat I really recommend ... | |
| turtlesounds: Distress or Vocalization? | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: . I rescued a turtle from an abusive situation several months ago..prob 4 yrs old/sex unknown/prob ... A: This is a long one, and though I like to have details, there is a lot of non-relevant information ... | |
| Map turtle; not moving much and not going in water | 3/30/2008 |
| Q: Sorry if you have answered a similar question to this one but I was just given 2 map turtles as a ... A: First, if you love them, then do not go one more day without a proper UVB lamp. If you can't do ... | |
| I can't figure out hwat species my turtle is. | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: I've had this turtle for years (we adopted him from 2 little girls who caught him in a pond in South ... A: No bother. That's what I'm here for. I will have to get back to you on thatv though, as I have some ... | |
| RE: I can't figure out hwat species my turtle is. | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: I've had this turtle for years (we adopted him from 2 little girls who caught him in a pond in South ... A: Well you've done very well with him. It does concern me a bit however if he is completely ... | |
| I can't figure out hwat species my turtle is. | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: I've had this turtle for years (we adopted him from 2 little girls who caught him in a pond in South ... A: Identification between the different subspecies of both aquatic sliders and cooters is somewhat ... | |
| my tortoise is sick! | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: .I have a tortoise ..its about 4years old..and these past days hes not eating anything..i give him ... A: Well it may be useless in your words, but I am a reptile expert with 20 years of experience in ... | |
| My red eared slider is not eating | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: I bought my red eared slider two months ago, he was doing fine then all of a sudden he stopped ... A: You did not read the instructions to questioner and provide the information I asked for before ... | |
| yellow belly teripin turtle | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: Can you pick a yellow belly terrapin turtle up ? because my brother and i was wondering will they ... A: That depends... If it is wild, I recommend you do not touch it, because they CAN and DO bite. A ... | |
| red ear slider turtle | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: My turtle speedy is a red ear slider turtle he likes to eat alot and shed his skin. He began to ... A: No the algae eater is not making your turtle sick, but your overfeeding him or not keeping the water ... | |
| decreased activity of map turtle | 3/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a map turtle. He is about 6 inch (shell length), in a 75 gallon (long) tank, with 1/4 land, ... A: Setup sounds good...but you didn't say whether you had a UVB source. Diurnal reptiles need UVB ... | |
| red-eared slider | 1/9/2008 |
| Q: we recently purchased a red-eared slider and I have a couple questions that I hope you can help me ... A: You have asked about shell rot, which is a health related question. In accordance with my ... | |
| condition of the turtles | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 red ear slider turtles. They are about 2 years old. I have them in the same tank. But 2 ... A: I can't say. There just isn't enough information here. Normally I don't consider "foam" normal, but ... | |
| Desert Tortoise | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: My little turtles suddenly have a very soft shell...I'm worried. They live in my bedroom in a fish ... A: I'm getting very tired of repeating myself. This is a health related question. I have a very visible ... | |
| nose deformation | 1/6/2008 |
| Q: i recently bought 2 redeaesliders, a female and a male, they are 3cm in diameter, and i am concerned ... A: This is a halth related question. I have a very visible instruction list of required information if ... | |
| substrates for the bottom of the aquarium | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: Good Morning. Squirt is my YBS turtle, he wil be 2 in march. But besides that, I just bought him a ... A: This does vary amongst who you ask, but I think the logical choice is river rock or river pebbles ... | |
| Red Slider Turtles | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: I have four turtles in 10 gallon tank and this morning 1/4/08 one of them was biting the rear end ... A: "Why are they doing that??" Is this a serious question? If so, then I suggest you take the turtles ... | |
| RES and Painted Turtles | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: I have 4 sub adult- turtles in a 75 gallon Long tank. I'm pretty sure I have 3 female RES, and 1 ... A: This is "normal" behavior for housing different species together, or a male and female. If your ... | |
| Slider Injury | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: One of my two RES recently developed an injury on the top of his neck. I have not witnessed any ... A: I would of course recommend a vet if you have the means, by all means; because I can't tell you what ... | |
| Brazil - redfooted tortoise | 1/1/2008 |
| Q: I am British but currently living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Yesterday I found a redfooted ... A: and Happy New Year from Texas. Thank you for primarily being concerned with the welfare of the ... | |
| Red Eared Slider | 12/29/2007 |
| Q: I would like to ask you about my Red Eared Slider, I've had him for just over a month and im ... A: I am afraid he may have died, especially if you have been putting him out in the direct Middle East ... | |
| my pet turtle | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: I have two small water turtles, the person that gave them to me bought them in Mexico. How can I ... A: As far as male or female identification, add a follow up to this question and include a couple of ... | |
| russian tortoise | 12/14/2007 |
| Q: I have a russian tortoise and i want to get another tortoise. i would really like a red footed ... A: No, they are from entirely different continents and have different habitat preferences and diets. ... | |
| Red Ear Slider | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: We have had our turtle for 2years. He was checked out by our vet about eighteen mos ago. he has ... A: It is typical for many vets to not be reptile experts. Most only see them on the side to fill up ... | |
| red eared sliders | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: red eared sliders 10 gallon tank size around 3 inches long ... A: Ok, first you give me a dead line, like you are in a hurry to buy a lot of turtles...which doesn't ... | |
| Aquatic turtles | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: I just bought two baby aquatic turtles and I wanted to know what types of heating they can use since ... A: You are going to need to do a lot of research. Most aquatic turtles get pretty big after a few years ... | |
| red eared slidder turtle | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: I don't know alot of the required information. All I know is that my son has a red earred slidder ... A: Unfortunately for this poor turtle, your first problem is that you don't know any of the required ... | |
| basking more and lethargic | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: I have a 2" red-eared slider hatchling. His tank is 30 gallons. The basking area temperature is ... A: You are one of the few people who have actually provided the information I need. There are several ... | |
| is my baby slider sick? | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: i am having trouble determining if my baby red eared slider is sick. he rarely eats, in fact i have ... A: It's never too late to be told good common sense. If you see it only as "guilt" and lecture", then ... | |
| is my baby slider sick? | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: i am having trouble determining if my baby red eared slider is sick. he rarely eats, in fact i have ... A: I don't understand that. If this was out of someone's expertise, then they should not be ... | |
| Russian Tortoise | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: Just purchased a Russian Tortoise from a local pet store approx1 week. I do not notice him eating ... A: It would have been helpful if you followed my instructions. You did see the instructions, right? ... | |
| What species! | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: My nephew recently purchased a baby turtle in China Town in NY. He was told this little guy is a ... A: It better not be a "sea turtle" or somebody may be going to jail. Sea Turtles are protected. If ... | |
| res lighting | 11/10/2007 |
| Q: i was wondering, how do red eared sliders recieve uvb rays or sunlight in the winter in Florida or ... A: I'm not sure I understand your question. If the sun shines and they are out, they will get UVB. RES' ... | |
| red ear water turtle eggs | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: My turtle lay the eggs on or around the 12th of july and now it is the 7th of nov. The egg are ... A: You should leave them be and not turn them. If you have turned them you will kill them. There is ... | |
| Red eared slider | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: My 6" male three year old red eared slider is in a 57 gallon tank by himself. I think he may need ... A: No, and this tank is too small for a growing RES of his size anyway. You are going to need a bigger ... | |
| horsefieldii | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: i recently bought a horsefieldii and he's a year and a half old, shows all the normal signs of ... A: Are you handling him excessively, and does he have adequate hide space? What about other factors ... | |
| red eared sliders | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: I have an outdoor pond in Phoenix Arizona. It is full of gold fish and koi and recently a fully ... A: Did you try a websearch? There has got to be more information on captive care of RES turtles than ... | |
| Cause for concern | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: I have a brown slider aquatic turtle that I've been taking care of for 5 years, she's about 5 inches ... A: Your question was sent to the pool, but I don't know why...this is an easy one. I would like to know ... | |
| Turtle | 10/26/2007 |
| Q: I have two turtles one bigger than the other one. I think" the big turtle Injured the other small ... A: This sounds like an abscess ( infection ). It could have come from any kind of trauma that damaged ... | |
| sick RES | 10/24/2007 |
| Q: i have to R.E.S. and only one of them is sick. They are about 6-9 months old...only about the size ... A: OK, you didn't follow my instructions and give me the proper background on these turtles like my ... | |
| Blister | 10/23/2007 |
| Q: My turtle has a blister on its inner leg I don't know what it is from or how to treat it. He is a ... A: It's not likely to be a blister unless the turtle has a chemical burn or you are using some kind of ... | |
| Mixed turtles sharing tank | 10/19/2007 |
| Q: I have a couple Mississippi Maps (babies) and just got some baby red ear sliders from a friend. I ... A: You didn't tell me what their origin was. Are these wild caught babies? If so, I would recommend ... | |
| escaped Map turtle | 10/18/2007 |
| Q: We have had two turtles for four years. We have them in a nice sized turtle tank and we woke up ... A: I don't know what a "nice size turtle tank" means. It's not specific. You also didn't tell me how ... | |
| plz send back ASAP | 10/16/2007 |
| Q: MY BROTHER HAS A RED EARED TURTLE AND HE HAS HAD IT FOR 2-3 MONTHS. ON SATURDAY...I WENT OVER AND ... A: Background details??? He's had it for 2-3 months from where??? I don't know if it has worms. It's ... | |
| Western painted turtle in my pond | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: I live in California in the temperate bay area. I have a 7 ft pond with a vinyl liner that has been ... A: I'm not sure which, as neither are exactly native to that area ( I'm assuming you mean San Francisco ... | |
| shedding skin | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: i have two yellow bellied turtles who are both shedding their skin around neck and legs.we have a ... A: You did not read the instructions. There are many many things that could cause this; from fungus, or ... | |
| russian housing in Ireland | 10/6/2007 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a Russian tortoise about 7/8 years old. I have read many sites and forums ... A: Well, cold and wet is not best for Russians. They have a wide geographic range, but where they come ... | |
| Box Turtle | 10/5/2007 |
| Q: I recently came into owning a box turtle in the past 3 months. And just this past couple of weeks it ... A: A vitamin supplement is not going to bring back necrotic tissue nor repair broken limbs. You did not ... | |
| Please help me figure out whats wrong with my turtle | 10/4/2007 |
| Q: I have a turtle whose back feet are 3 times the normal size and flat and have a gray matter on them. ... A: To be blunt, take him to a damn vet. Don't be a tight wad. If this were dogs or cats, you could be ... | |
| MY TURTLE | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: ..MY QUESTION IS THAT I FOUND A TURTLE OUTSIDE A STORE..I TOLD MY MOM THAT I SAW ONE SO WE GOT ... A: If the turtle is healthy, it should be returned exactly where it was found, if the area has ... | |
| RES Basking? | 9/27/2007 |
| Q: I have 2 Red-ear Sliders one 10 inchs the other is 9 inchs. I have them in a 55 gallon tank that ... A: I applaud you for not wanting to just set them loose in the wild when they grew up, and for being ... | |
| Box Turtles | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: What would you recommend for an indoor box turtle enclosure. Also, is it really necessary to ... A: Individual size has nothing to do with it. It's roaming space that concerns box turtles. They do not ... | |
| can they mate | 9/25/2007 |
| Q: i have a question my uncle has two type sof turtles a box turtle and a red ear slider and he was ... A: I think your uncle needs to do more research on turtles, or let these go where they were found if he ... | |
| Box Turtles | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: What would you recommend for an indoor box turtle enclosure. Also, is it really necessary to ... A: I don't recommend indoor setups for box turtles. In fact I run a reptile rescue, and we won't even ... | |
| help | 9/22/2007 |
| Q: his eyes are really swollen and he cant open them, and he isnt eating much could you please give me ... A: You asked a health related question and didn't follow my instructions, therefore my answer will be ... | |
| floating faeces | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: I have 2 Macquarie Turtles (1 year and 6 months). There diet consists of feeder fish, bloodworms, ... A: Yes, it most likely is. Mealworms are very high in fat, and a high fat content will result in ... | |
| mouth crud and leeches | 9/2/2007 |
| Q: Have had red-eared sliders for 13 years in my pond and just recently found lots of leeches on them, ... A: Any kind of crud around a turtle's mouth may be sign of serious injury or infection, and for them I ... | |
| tortoise | 9/1/2007 |
| Q: Mick,. My turtle lives in a bowl .I daily clean the cage cuz it is in a bowl . I have a fish tank is ... A: You have a tortoise, or a turtle? And why does it live in a bowl?? It sounds like you are asking for ... | |
| terrapins not eating food | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: (me again) ok i can't take them to a vet because we just moved and i don't know where vets are. both ... A: Once again...you did not answer my questions from the last answer, about whether you had a UVB ... | |
| turtles and koi ponds | 8/30/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I have a 4x6 240 gallon outdoor pond. I have 6 coi fish, 2 which are 4-6 inches, 1 that is 4 ... A: We currently keep a rescued juvenile RES turtle with several goldfish. As long as the fish outpace ... | |
| fedding | 8/29/2007 |
| Q: i got my two terrapins two days ago and they have a oval tank with the length of 26 and a width of ... A: Indufficient information. How big are the turtles? Is the fluorescent light a UVB light? I don't ... | |
| ornate box turle hinges | 8/28/2007 |
| Q: do you have a picture of the hinges on an ornate or does it look like a horizontal crack across the ... A: I'm not sure I understand your orientation of horizontal ( unless the turtle is being held ... | |
| painted turtle-we think | 8/24/2007 |
| Q: so my grandson age 10, founf his turtle laid an egg in the water aquarium-- the turtles 90 gl home. ... A: The size of what is "9" long"? For the sake of these many turtles, I hope this is a very very wide ... | |
| yellow belly slider turtle | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: i have a couple of near two year old yellow belly sliders, who are approx 4 inches long (shell ... A: You cannot know that it is not a fracture without an x-ray. You also cannot judge it's discomfort ... | |
| turle | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: i bought a turtle a few months ago and it has been bleeding the last few day at the bottom of the ... A: I have NO idea if you are overfeeding it or not. You followed NONE of the instructions I lay out for ... | |
| Tucker the Russian Tortoise | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: I recently inherited Tucker. I am wondering if his claws are too long? He walks on the tips of ... A: I do not know if his claws are too long, as I have no measurements to go by, and I do not know what ... | |
| Health | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: i had bought this turtle from china myself and then i came back to my home in dubai, united arab ... A: Both turtles appear to be male. The Reeves turtle is semi aquatic and often likes to hide in tall ... | |
| Russian Tortoise | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: Ok I got a russian tortoise only 3 days ago and i am confused about its feeding. I have been feeding ... A: Romaine lettuce and pellets is not an acceptable diet for a tortoise. These need to be provided a ... | |
| Cherry Head Red Footed Tortoise | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: I am a military wife stationed in Okinawa Japan with my husband. We found a South American Cherry ... A: It would be quite unusual to find a Red Foot on Okinawa. In that case it could only have been ... | |
| Box turtle | 8/10/2007 |
| Q: My tree-toed box turtle eats almost no vegatables. we offer them of course but he will only eat ... A: He has been spoiled for lettuce and carrots. Carrots are good for him, lettuce is not. Lettuce ... | |
| Health | 8/9/2007 |
| Q: i had bought this turtle from china myself and then i came back to my home in dubai, united arab ... A: You can post your photos to photobucket.com or a similar web based photo server and then advise me ... | |
| Many Questions/Box turtle | 8/4/2007 |
| Q: I have several questions I hope you can answer: 1.I have a male Three-toed-Box turtle, I beleave he ... A: 89%? Why 89% instead of 88% or 90%? That's funny. One can never be sure if males are going to get ... | |
| feeding | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: I've had my YBS going on 2 days. The place i got him at gave me a little container of round pellets. ... A: If it is a young slider, then break the pellets into small pieces and drop them in the water. At ... | |
| my turtles | 8/1/2007 |
| Q: my name is david, i am from scotland, UK. my girlfriend and i bought 2 baby turtle from an aquarium ... A: Pet stores don't often know what they have themselves, and I'm often skeptical of what is labelled. ... | |
| turtles | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: how do the baby red ear sliders tank supose to be setup. A: As this is a very very broad question which requires more of a book to address, rather than an ... | |
| Painted turtles | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: I have two painted turtles that I have had for about 5 1/2 years. The other day we caught the one ... A: Sometimes turtles will bite each other on the tail over territory of one kind or another. Your ... | |
| PAINTED TURTLES | 7/22/2007 |
| Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A PAINTED TURTLE, ONCE PREGNANT, TO LAY ITS EGGS A: "Pregnant" is acceptable, but the proper term for oviviporous ( egg laying ) species is "gravid". ... | |
| HELP! MY BABAY TURTLE WONT EAT! | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: hey! i have 2 baby turtles and 1 wont eat!i just got it like 4 days ago and its a yellow bellied ... A: There are too many things this could be, and your background was not complete enough. Was this ... | |
| My turtle | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: my turtle is putting her head into her shell very slowly and closes her eyes when it gets in her ... A: You have not been specific enough about present conditions for me to make much of a diagnosis. Just ... | |
| Yertle my turtle will not eat | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: Yertle was bought in a pet store at the mall he was all of the size of a quarter. I have had him for ... A: Yertle may have an infection due to unclean tank conditions. A 5 gallon is no where near sufficient ... | |
| tortoise question | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: We recently were given a russian tortoise. It had only been fed turlte pellets for two years. now ... A: I'm not sure why this question was in the question pool, as it appears you directed it to someone ... | |
Turtles
Answers by Expert:
Mick
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
NO PRIVATE QUESTIONS! YOUR QUESTION WILL BE REJECTED IF YOU DO NOT PROVIDE THE INFO REQUESTED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS!. I can answer questions related to various aspects of reptile husbandry, field ID (esp. in Texas and the SW), legal aspects, and intermediate level medical care on most species. I am a co-founder of Wichita Falls Reptile Rescue (TX), founding member of The Society for Horned Lizard Preservation, a member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Assoc, and a subscriber to the International Veterinary Information Service. I do most of my own veterinary care in-house. I am most experienced in Chelonia (turtles&torts) with box turtles and common smaller tortoises; and in Squamata (lizards & snakes) with everything from Anoles, Geckos, Beardies, and Monitors, to venomous snakes. I am most known for my expertise with horned lizards (Phrynosoma). With snakes, my primary expertise is in Crotalids (rattlesnakes), but I can answer a broad range of questions about various species. I am not aware of any reptile related question, in general, that I would not be able to provide some reasonable answer for. I have a direct style and may tell you something you did not want to hear; but the welfare of the animal comes first with me, and I will always reflect that position in my answer.
Experience
I am an amateur herpetologist, with 20 years experience in reptiles. I am a reptile rescuer and subscriber to the International Veterinary Information Service. I have medical and scientific resources available, and have had to learn herp medical care over the years. I am not a vet, but I read from the same materials and have had to correct a few in the past, as it related to reptiles. My specific area of expertise is in Chelonians ( primary- Box Turtles ), Phrynosoma ( Horned Lizards ), and Crotalids ( primary- Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes ); though I have some knowledge and/or experience also with aquatic turtles ( primary- Red Eared Sliders ), tortoises ( primary-Sulcata and Horsfieldii ), monitors ( primary- Savannah ), many other smaller lizards, and with some colubrid snakes.
I am currently the caretaker of 14 Horned Lizards, 17 Box Turtles, 3 Red Eared Sliders, 1 Green
Iguana, 2 Texas Spiny Lizards, 1 Bullsnake, 2 Checkered Gartersnakes, 2 Eastern Ratsnakes, 1 Albino Great
Plains Ratsnake, 2 Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, 1 Leopard Gecko, 2 River Cooters, 3 Fox Squirrels,
5 Pocket mice, and 1 Budgie. Previously: Leopard Geckos, Golden Gecko, African White-Spotted Wall Gecko,
Mediterranean Geckos, Bahama Anoles, Ca. Kingsnake, Brazilian Rainbow Boa, Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Russian Tortoise, Savannah Monitor, and Eastern Cotton-tail rabbits.
Organizations
Co-Founder: Wichita Falls Reptile Rescue
http://freewebs.com/wichitafallsreptilerescue
Founder: Horned Lizards YahooGroup
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/hornedlizards
Member: National Wildlife Rehabilitators Assoc.
Publications
Horned Lizard Husbandry - self published care sheet.
Wikipedia entry "Horned Lizards" - contributed to a majority of the content.
Education/Credentials
25 years of field and captive husbandry experience.
Past/Present Clients
I was requested to provide my care sheet on the Desert Horned Lizard-Phrynosoma platyrhinos, for the Montreal zoo. My manual is currently used by several other zoological institutions in N. America.
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