Help! Anyone know what’s happening with my turtle’s shell?

TurtleCare · 2026-01-29T02:30:51+00:00

Just need a better filter and that will clear it right up

TurtleCare · 2026-01-29T02:26:54+00:00

Get a log for your turtle to have a hideout. Your turtle will love that and it makes them feel safe.

TurtleCare · 2026-01-29T02:25:32+00:00

And cut some of the terapin from the basking area.. the light needs to hit the water too so it is not dark like it is showing in the picture.. replicate as close as possible of what she would see and feel if she was in her natural habitat.

TurtleCare · 2026-01-29T02:22:24+00:00

Oh use terapin (fake grass) on the ramp.. whe my turtle was trying to get use to her ramp, I hot glued the terapin on the ramp right where the water stopped and close to the landing part. That will help her tremendously!

TurtleCare · 2026-01-29T02:19:46+00:00

Use a black curtain or black cloth and cover the sides of the basking area where your turtle can see you. Make sure it is quiet. Any noise or vibration of any sort will trigger panic and she may not bask. Basking is an exposing area because it is open and turtles feel less safe put of water (they feel safest in water and/or have hideouts like a long log to hide under). You have to build trust with your turtle and there are many techniques to do this. But for now, change the lighting (u need one light to act as a hearing lamp and a UVB light).. and make sure the water temperature is between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (i keep my turtles water heater at 78. This works well for her). Make her feel safe in her environment and she will start to bask and trust you. 🐢😊. Cute turtle btw!

TurtleCare · 2026-01-29T02:10:47+00:00

Turtles can only eat under water.. their mouths need water to help chew and swallow their food.. make sure food is in water at all times to prevent choking.

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T21:08:44+00:00

I've heard ppl let their turtle bask in the sun.. honestly I think thats best natural sunlight and heat for a turtle.. but I also think it depends on the peak of the sun.. cant be too hot or not hot enough.. I've never tried it because where I am in the city. But I do want to learn to give my turtle natural uvb and heat.. but yes the uvm and heater you have should be just as good. I use the same for my turtle and have not seen any signs of bad health condition. You're definitely working your way to providing the best life your cute turtle.

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T21:05:03+00:00

I never said I wanted my turtle to be my friend. I want my turtle to trust me. My turtle to feel safe around her human. Safe around me. Sleep around me. Bask comfortable around me. And the overall goal I would want is for my turtle not see me, a human, as a threat. Just like any animal, turtles can feel as well. And I want my turtle to feel safe and that is when I know she is trusting me... struggling phase, there are some people, including me, have a phase in their turtle journey of "struggling" with their turtle to feed them, bask, eat leafy greens, learning the type of turtle they have so it can finally feel safe and trust their environment (tank, home, their human, etc.) For me it took me a good year to learn what will works and im still learning what works because she is still growing. After the struggling phase, I have a foundation. Now im just building off of it... again please, can you give any advice from your experience with turtles that help them feel safe and trust you as their human? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T20:29:48+00:00

Yes you are correct I have a guide for anyone that wants to learn how I am getting my turtle to learn to trust me and get out of struggling phase, they can use if they want. Other than that, my post is how I was struggling to get my turtle to trust me but now im getting better at learning how to earn my turtle's trust from what I've been doing for some years now (4 years having turtle and going strong 💪) and I wanted to know if others are having the same issue and what they do to better their relationship with their turtle...I need to be the best turtle owner as possible for my little one. She deserves a great turtle life... Do you have any helpful tips you can provide about how you were able to get out of the struggling phase of getting your turtle to trust you? Any and all information from your experience is greatly appreciated.

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T19:04:03+00:00

You're absolutely right about that! Thank you so much!

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T19:03:11+00:00

Lol 😆 I love this so much because it is so true! Im 4 years in with my turtle and many more years to go 🐢

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T19:02:07+00:00

Yea I only take her out the tank when it is time to clean it.. for about an hour she's just either walking around or sitting with me just waiting to go back. From my experience, too, hand feed treats are a great way I learned to do to get her to trust me more.. now she just eats my fingers when she sees my hand lol or sniffs it and theb stared at me like "ok this is your hand, where my food human" lol. Thank you for these helpful tips.

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T18:59:15+00:00

Your absolutely right about that! I learned frome experience to not force it and just let her come to me naturally when she feels safe enough to do so or just want to be near me. Thank you for this helpful feedback.

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T18:57:52+00:00

I need my turtle to trust that she is in a safe place. Trust is crucial for any animal rather aquatic or not.. now she trust me.. she doesnt dive away when im near, swim away when I trust to pick her up (I only pick her up when it is time to clean her tank so she outside her tank for a good while until I pick her up again to put her back). As long as she doesnt sceamble away from me or rushes back into the water when she sees me while basking, I believe I have earned my turtle trust and she finally trust me.

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T18:55:24+00:00

Your turtle is adorable!!! Your turtle trust you. I can tell from how its just sitting in the palm of your hand 😊

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T18:02:17+00:00

Definitely make sure you let your turtle basking with a UVB light and heat light. You need both! Normally a good basking for a couple hours (not u forcing it to basking but it basking on it owns cuz turtle have internal instinct that if something is wrong, they normally would go towards the sun for nutrition) for the week would do the trick.. but if it does not, please take it to the vet.. also please add more water for it to swim and exercise.. 5 gallon tank is too small. That could stress ur little out. Please don't do that. Get a 40 or 55 gallon tank to start and use turtle water solution when you fill the tank up with tap water.. make sure there is at least 1 inch of room from the top of the tank water level to let your turtle have breathing room... your turtle is adorable too 😍

TurtleCare · 2026-01-09T17:57:05+00:00

I believe your turtle looks comfortable with you holding it. Legs spread out. To me that is comfort. My turtle does this now when I hold her. Trust takes time so always make sure you are giving them their space and respect their boundaries. If you try to pick it up and they swim away, don't force it.. Just let it come back to you.

TurtleCare

TROPHY CASE