Hello I’m new to having a turtle I’ve had her for about 4 or 5 weeks and everything has been good up to about a week ago, I was adding some water because it had evaporated so I took her out of the tank while I added it so it wouldn’t shock her. And after when everything was good and tested I put her back in the tank and gave her a night crawler. Everywhere that I read said they where good as treats every once in a while so I fed it to her and she ate it right up but sense then I can not get her to eat anything else, she won’t eat her pellets and I tried lettuce which she just bites then spits out. I got her and her set up for free because her old family was moving and couldn’t bring her with them. They told me that she is a 4 year old painted turtle, and that’s about it the pellets I was and have been trying to feed her are the ones they gave me so I really don’t know what’s wrong. I guess my real question is 1 is this normal, 2 can she live off of just eating worms, and 3 if not how do I fix it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Apologies if I wrote smth wrong, I am using translator. I’ve run into an unpleasant situation and don’t know what to do. It all started when I decided to switch my Central Asian tortoise’s diet from just plain lettuce to a mix of different greens (I can’t forage for fresh greens myself, as I live in a city, + with a lot of air pollution). However, tortoises can be quite picky, and mine stopped eating altogether. He went a week without food, and then started eating the absorbent pads I was using as a liner (since the proper substrate hadn’t arrived yet—it was actually really hard to find any in the country!). Once the substrate finally arrived, I filled the terrarium with it and put the tortoise back in, but then he started eating the substrate! He’s 17 cm long including his limbs, with a 10 cm shell, so it wasn’t a life-threatening emergency; I was able to give him a warm soak, and he managed to pass everything. I put him into a box with a towel and kept him there for 3 days, under a UVB lamp and a heating lamp. I gave him his favourite lettuce again + carrots but he ate a tiny bit of carrots and didn’t eat anything again. he is energetic though, he is scratching the box trying to dig and etc. I finally thought that I can put him back in the tank, did that, but he started eating the substrate again! I put him back in the box and I don’t know what to do. I don’t have any vets in my city who specializes on tortoises, so I am not sure. By the way, the substrate I’m using is from exo terra: “stone desert”. Please help me!!! Give some advice! 

Well, it looks like we made a tiny difference, still missing some key stuff here. I came to class and the water was much cleaner, a little deeper, and he has some hidey holes, but I don't think he can even fit in there. No changes to heat source or filter. I am glad they're moving in the right direction, but I guess I need to send some more emails.

Saw this guy casually walking down my driveway and then heading down the sidewalk.

My brother has three turtles that he won’t take care of and wants to just abandon them outside, I don’t want the turtles to die and I don’t know anywhere else we can take them. All three of the turtles are healthy but needs a resupply on food, I don’t know much about turtles or what to do so any thing helps.

Hello everyone, meet Mac – a caramel pink red eared slider. He turned a year old in September and I’ve begun to gradually pivot to a more vegetable-heavy diet for him. He mostly eats green coral lettuce daily with his pellets, and occasionally duckweed. Transitioning him to veg hasn’t been much of a problem thankfully and he’s been a very easy pet!

In the last couple of weeks I’ve noticed his head becoming more yellow, is this normal or is there anything to be concerned about?? He’s still active, swimming strongly and basks daily.

Pictured: first two (today), third (a month ago) and fourth (in July).

I am looking to build a pond for my turtles but I don't really know where to start or if it is even okay to switch my turtles who have been separate, to a pond where they are together.

Some context: I have 4 yellow belly sliders, one is a Female that is roughly 20 years old, the other three are only 3 years old and I believe it is 2 females and a male. The older turtle has always had her own 150 gal tank with a basking platform while the smaller turtles share a 150 gal tank currently. They are monitored and seem to get along well as I have not had any issues with biting or bullying.

I was roughly thinking it would be a 500 gal pond but I'm not sure if that is enough or if all of them together would cause issues. Any advice is appreciated.

Can someone please tell me what type of turtle I found and how some pointers please and thank you

I have a 13 year-old red ear slider, and I learned that I’m not supposed to be using tapwater to clean her filter or when I change out her water. I read something along the lines of having to condition the water? Does anyone know what product I should get and how I can clean both properly??

Original post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/turtles/s/gJ89KJiItW

I just received this email from the dean of science from my community college. I am honestly so angry and need help formulating a proper response with information about proper care if someone could help me.

Hi, just found a turtle on my driveway and have no idea how they came here because we never see turtles around the houses and lawns. I don’t think they’re able to find food or water around our lawns, should I place them near a lake? There’s other turtles around the lakes too, and I know they’re semi-aquatic creatures. I’m not sure what to do with them tbh.

Hello,
I have a penn plax, it was working well last winter but now it makes this noise :((, has anyone experienced something like this? I checked the impeller and apparently it looks okay so I’m not sure what’s the issue.

He has had at least three females visiting him this year and I spotted one digging a nest on my property in the spring.

I'm looking into buying a T5 light fixture for my RES. I'm hesitant to buy anything because a lot of the products don't give dimensions or are unclear about mounting. I'm looking at the Arcadia Reptile Pro T5 Kit, Desert 12% UVB, 24W, 24". My tank is 48 x 13 x 20.5 inches. (55 gallon) (I also kinda feel that my tank size is irregular and so thats why I want to make sure any accessories fit first but can't find any info)

I've seen the hangers on etsy that sit on the terrarium screen. I know that I can also mount the lights on the adjacent wall. My confusion comes from, for the people that use terrarium screens, how do your filter tubes and heater fit with the screen? I really can't find any clarification for this.

Some more questions:

1. Can ZooMed T5 bulbs fit into an Arcadia fixture, and vice versa?

2. Should I get the 12% or 14% UVB strength?

What kind of turtle is this?

I left her at a vet clinic while on vacation for two months, and when I picked her up I noticed this on her face; an AI suggested it looks like severe stomatitis (mouth rot) and advised temporary dry-docking, but I'd appreciate experienced keepers' thoughts while I wait for a specialist

Important stuff and questions will be bold.

This is Omar, my eastern painted turtle. Barely bigger than a 4cm coin. He’s probably about 5-6 cm. Unsure of what gender tbh. My sister found him in the yard with no water at all nearby which is strange, idk where he came from or where he was going, but she saved him from the neighbors dog.

The 5 gallon tank he’s in is clean, just has constant calcium buildup. Plus he's getting more space soon. He's got a basking spot and a hiding spot under, as well as medium size rocks to rest on in the water.

I’ve done basic research, the minimum, but now it's time to support him while he grows into a man... If a few of you wouldn't mind just throwing some answers or general advice in for a future long-term turtle owner.

* Water Temp & PH levels: I change his water (spring water) once a week, sometimes I do a whole replacement.
Here are some water measurements I took recently (measured in mg/L):
pH: ~7.0
Alkalinity: ~90-100
Carbonate: ~90
Hardness: ~0
Free Chlorine: 0
Nitrate: ~0-5
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0

*Tank & Lighting: He’s currently in a 5 gallon but he’s outgrowing it very fast. His lighting is a 13 watt, 5.0 UVB, along with a 6 inch dome. What should be the next tank size i get? Tall or long style? And is that lighting enough?

* Diet: His diet has been EXTREMELY limited so far, multiple times a day tho, freeze dried crickets that are soaked and chopped, along with worms (all that is for his calcium and protein, calcium supplement) and his vegetable is primarily baby green and red leaves. --- How often should I be feeding him? I leave him fair-sized servings of each at most twice a day. Should I switch to bloodworms? Or any other vegetable? What can I give him in place of the crickets for good calcium?

* I’m worried he’s not basking enough, the third picture is some white stuff that appears on his skin occasionally, but i worry it could be or lead to a fungal infection.
Should i move his light closer to his basking spot? Right now its 7.5 inches away from his basking rock/platform. Is the water too warm?

Lastly, ANYTHING you guys recommend, specific supplements or meds to have on handy, tools, etc. i’d love to know!

Jacksonville Florida. Im not sure if I should walk him to the woods or the lake. Woods are right outside my fence, so thats probably where he came from, but the lake a block away has a lot of other turtles. Or just let him wander off on his own if he has a territory, but I don't want him to get hit by the lawn mower. Think its a mud turtle.

I believe I have the essential stuff which is a hut,feeding bowls,lamp,bask wood. But I need help on what to change or to add and also what to feed her ?

I've never been a reptile owner, I am more into rodents and small animals, but I know something here is not right. The tank seems too small and the water not clean, what can I do to help poor Obi-Wan? I want to offer to do a water change but I am unsure what kind of Ph balances are needed and don't want to cause any damage.

It’s a reeves turtle it’s about 5 I think he’s male he has 50-50 water and land with a Uv light his food is recommended by from the place we brought him

Found basking in Garfield County, NE. 10/9/26. Photo taken by me.