Baby turtle rescue problem...

[Arconna]

I've gotten myself into a little bit of a pickle here. It's nothing I can't handle, not at all, but here's the situation nonetheless.

My Mom and my Brother got 3 baby turtles (I doubt they were captive bred, and for some reason I think they came from Florida...which is likely illegal...) Anyway, I think they are all some sort of mud turtle, but I need to get some pictures to identify since they are still very much babies.
Anywho, they originally were not taking care of them properly and got some info on them, bought them all sorts of stuff for them to make things right, etc. Well, was up there again today and found all three babies swimming in their own feces. Not talking little bits, but actually slime and goop in the water. I took them out immediately, they were covered in the stuff...
So, I took them home with me because they just couldn't care properly for them. But now I have 3 turtles...and I don't want to give them to the rescue place around here, or to the reptile killing pet store. I could keep them, and they'll get the care they need, no doubt, but I'm just in a bit of a dilemma with this. It's three aquatic turtles, so they will grow and I'll need a larger bin for them to live on, and a pump too since they never got one. I'm just somewhat overwhelmed with it all.

So any advice lol. I'm not at a point where I can't care for them or anything like that, so there is no worry that I won't be able to feed them or get them what they need. I'm just, I dunno, it's going to be 3 animals on top of my lizards and the other lizards I will eventually be getting...brain freeze :S.
First things first I'm going to figure out what my Mom does about it though. I just don't want them in her care because obviously she couldn't take care of them to begin with, and consistently ignored the info I gave her on how to make sure they would grow at a healthy rate and what not. I'm not even sure how long it takes these turtles to reach adult length...

Anyway, I'm rambling :S.

 

[gko reptiles]

WOW. Well, I'm not a turtle person, but good luck! Let's see some pictures too

 

[ExcessiveHerps]

check out austinsturtlepage.com its a wealth of info, why do you think they are WC and illegal at that?

 

[Arconna]

I seem to remember my mother talking about how the people who have similar turtles were going to get them from friends they had in Florida. That's where I get the WC from, and if I'm not mistaken, taking animals without a permit from the Everglades is a huge fine is it not? I'm not positive, but I know that these people didn't get these turtles on some permit if they did get them from the EG's.
I'm probably just going to keep them lol. Does anyone know where I can get those huge Rubbermaid Turtle Ponds? I don't need one of the biggest ones, but something big enough for when they are adults :S.
I'm also going to go out and get some prices on a decent pump and filter so I can reduce the amount of cleaning I have to do for these little guys. Right now I have them in one of those gray bins you find at Walmart and what not, a sterelite one I think. I used to keep crix in it, but I cleaned it out and turned it into a turtle thingy.
I'll try to get some pictures. I don't have a digital camera so I rely on a friend to come over and take pics for me lol. They are still freaking tiny! They are about the same size os the diameter on the end of a toilet paper roll (you know, where the openeing is, about that big). I'm in the process of doing all my bin cleaning today, so I'll get some food when I'm out for them and what not.

Anywho, thanks for the link

 

[ExcessiveHerps]

I seem to remember my mother talking about how the people who have similar turtles were going to get them from friends they had in Florida. That's where I get the WC from, and if I'm not mistaken, taking animals without a permit from the Everglades is a huge fine is it not? I'm not positive, but I know that these people didn't get these turtles on some permit if they did get them from the EG's.
I'm probably just going to keep them lol. Does anyone know where I can get those huge Rubbermaid Turtle Ponds? I don't need one of the biggest ones, but something big enough for when they are adults :S.
I'm also going to go out and get some prices on a decent pump and filter so I can reduce the amount of cleaning I have to do for these little guys. Right now I have them in one of those gray bins you find at Walmart and what not, a sterelite one I think. I used to keep crix in it, but I cleaned it out and turned it into a turtle thingy.
I'll try to get some pictures. I don't have a digital camera so I rely on a friend to come over and take pics for me lol. They are still freaking tiny! They are about the same size os the diameter on the end of a toilet paper roll (you know, where the openeing is, about that big). I'm in the process of doing all my bin cleaning today, so I'll get some food when I'm out for them and what not.

Anywho, thanks for the link

I see are you sure if they where infact WC that they come fromt he EG? Some of the most commonly sold turtles int he US orginate from Florida, although they are a now very commonly bred. Non the less I guess you'll never really know where they came from. I'm very interested in seeing them so I can try and ID them for you. Depending on what they are will make a huge facter on thier adult cage, mud and musk turtles from florida don't get large at all and 3 could be easily and comformatbly kept a in a50 gallon rubbermaid stock tank. If they happen to be a cooter or softshell thats a whole another sotry after florida softsehls get 20'' plus inches and need several hundred gallon cage as adults. Any feed stores should have stock tanks but as little 2'' incher they will be find in a 30-40 gallon cage. Have you tried pellets for them yet? Reptomin, aquamax, and mazuri are probably the 3 most commonly used food pellets for turtles, I used the aquamax but have previously used the other 2 as well. There are several filter out there and if you're having small muds that you'll be alittle more restricted as they like shallow water, for 30 gallons of water volume or less zoomed 501 filters work great. Filter are great for collecting water and if you have benificial bacterica for comsuming ammonia and nitrate as well yet you'll still need frequent water changes 2-4 times a month a good 10-30% each time is recommanded.
Xavier

 

[Arconna]

I'm not turtle expert, but my guess is they are a mud turtle (possibly 3-striped). I know they came from Florida, but as you said I can never actually know if they were bought, bred, whatever. I just get the impression they are WC.
I'm going to get some pellets for them on my way out today. They were feeding them cat food, so that's going to stop. They didn't really listen to anything I told them. I even bought an aquatic turtle book for them to read.
I think right now I have them in a 30 gallon or maybe 25. They are still tiny, so I'll work my way up later.
Thanks so much for the info on filters and such. Now I have something to ask for at the store lol. I'll try my hardest to get pictures today of them. No guarantees though. Not having a digital camera sucks!

 

[ExcessiveHerps]

I'm not turtle expert, but my guess is they are a mud turtle (possibly 3-striped). I know they came from Florida, but as you said I can never actually know if they were bought, bred, whatever. I just get the impression they are WC.
I'm going to get some pellets for them on my way out today. They were feeding them cat food, so that's going to stop. They didn't really listen to anything I told them. I even bought an aquatic turtle book for them to read.
I think right now I have them in a 30 gallon or maybe 25. They are still tiny, so I'll work my way up later.
Thanks so much for the info on filters and such. Now I have something to ask for at the store lol. I'll try my hardest to get pictures today of them. No guarantees though. Not having a digital camera sucks!

If they are 3 stripes you lucked out they will be comfortable right now int he 25 or 30 gallon and as 4'' adult could all live nightly in a 50 gallon, make sure you onyl have then in a couple inches of water as they are poor swimmers. 3 stripe mud was my very first pet which first spiked my herp hobby many years ago.
Xavier