HELP NEEDED IMMEDIATELY! Rescued turtle!

[rlditmars]

My progress after one scrub. He's soaking again now in new water. He DESTROYED a brillo pad into shreds.

I also worked my fingers over his feet and got some sludge from between his toes.

Is he a box turtle?

Looks like your making some progress. Yes that is a box turtle. Good job and good luck.

[Pyrate81]

He looks like a boxie to me.

You can use either the tub, wooden enclosure, or the 45gal tank. I'd recommend using the heat lamp for him and no substrate. Perhaps add substrate if you can get him dry enough. He's gonna make some noise moving around though.

I know water turtles shed skin and shell so I would assume box turtles do the same as well but I wouldn't quote me on that(hopefully someone can chime in on that). Getting the majority of it off would be priority. And unfortunately getting it all off in one shot is probably not feasible. I would definitely get him set up in an enclosure so he can rest and De-stress. Offer some lettuce and veggies(carrots, radishes, peppers, onions may be bad) if you have some. If you have dandelions or sunflowers in the back yard, give him some of those.

[DestinyLynette]

He's currently set up in the wooden enclosure with a towel with paper towels on top and a pan of water. My mom suggested cat-food since he apparently robs the bowl in the backyard from time to time, but I'm pretty sure just because he DOES eat it, doesn't mean he SHOULD. Currently perusing our fridge to get some healthy noms for him. I've decided to call him Icarus, or Icky for short

[DestinyLynette]

He now has a small bowl of torn kale and chopped baby carrots. We had some red onions, green onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers too, but I don't know what's okay for him. Also, some corn in the freeze I think, some mushy blueberries, etc.

[Pyrate81]

Sounds good.

Not sure about the onions and tomatoes. Kale and carrots are definitely good though. He'll eat what he likes.

Use fruits sparingly. They are a good treat. Granted you may not be keeping him and you can give him all the blueberries/strawberries etc you want, but if they get too much in the fruit area, they can get hooked and will refuse veggies.

If they eat meat at all its usually insects and earth worms.

Good name too. :-)

[DestinyLynette]

Will he like meal worms? I was thinking about going up to the pet store tomorrow and getting him some to supplement his diet, and maybe a supplement or something. I already feel bad because he's such a big guy and I know they like to roam; the least I can do is give him some yummy bugs.

[hig]

I have been watching this thread, i don't really have any advice but I thought i should say great job! Hope you can help that little guy out!

[DestinyLynette]

Thanks I went ahead and got him some meal worms. Now that I'm looking at his face closely, I'm concerned about his eyes. I don't think I've seen them totally open; just dark and squinty with a white fleshy sheath over it. Then again, maybe this is because I'm peering at him so closely. When I wait for him to extend his head and wave my hand in front of him, I don't really get a reaction.

[Pyrate81]

Yeah, I've been thinking about how his eyes are as well. Hopefully they aren't in bad shape and he isn't responding to your movement is cause they are only caked over with tar and not burned out. Guess you'll find out in the coming days.

Has he eaten at all yet? Try the meal worms, he may or may not go for them I don't know if people feed them to torts.

You're doing great. I hope both of you will rest well tonight.

[DestinyLynette]

Thank you. And no, not that I've seen, unless he snuck some in during my worm run. He's mostly been sitting facing the wall in the corner of his enclosure. I'm wondering how I will even work on cleaning off his head? Obviously the withdrawal problem, and also scrubbing hard enough to remove tar but not being too abrasive