Terrapin Gecko Hide.

[Dimidiata]

I always loved those turtle shell gecko hides at my LPS, but they wanted $30 for them X_X. So, since im in SC visiting my grandparents and keeping up the yard/hunting camp while my grandfathers knee recovers, i found myself quite a number of hallow turtle shells out in the woods, from tiny to ridiculosly huge(i Tried SO HARD to find a nice small alligator snapper shell). I came up with this one.

I was wondering exactly if this was a good or a bad idea. Also, how should i go about cleaning it. Amonia/bleach baths or what? Im not sure how turtle shells react to diffrent substances and if they break down in hot water or what not. I already gave it a hot rinse in the sink.

Also, it came with bones . No head or feet or such but one piece in particular that i thought i may use to make the shell more decorative. What do you think?

Awsome i know, please hold your applause. XD. Total viking theme.
Anyone want to tell me what type of turtle they think this is? I was thinking potentialy a alabama map or cooter of sorts. The week is still young so i may find more . There was a nice map turtle shell, very awsome but it was so small.


Now for those of you kind enough to actually read i have a present.

 

[lora01fl]

Sam, the turtle shell is a great find. Have no idea how to clean it though.

Love the gators! Those are big guys too. They are impressive to look at in their own environment. The ones in captivity seem to loose their menacing look.

 

[Dimidiata]

thanks! The gators are about 8ft in these pics lol. There were a few 16ft ones out of my cameras reach. Tomarrow i hope ill be posting catfish and breem pics. Did find a sick turtle today, a huge male slider. Couldnt submerge or swim well, was really raspy and weezy.

 

[Dimidiata]

Still hoping to find out the answers to the original questions though. Im thinking of just treating the shell like soft bone?

 

[marauderhex]

You are right. You clean carapaces like that just like you would other bones. Easiest way is to bake them in an oven at 200 degrees F for around 30 min after cleaning under hot water. Nice shots of the gators, btw. I totally want to wrestle one someday.

 

[Dimidiata]

wrestling gators is fun... when their small. XD. I was in a small boat, 2" off the water and a 12ft gator decided to fallow my bober back to the boat. I stopped about 4 ft off when i noticed him and he ate my bober. Just ate it and started swiming off except it was attached to my line and i was completely stupid and pulled back. Thankyou grandfathe and pistol. That would have been very ugly for me.

So if i were to boil this would it make it soft and flexible like a bone? I need to widen he front of it but i dont want to file it down.

 

[andrew5859]

So let me get this straight you want to know if you can keep one of those gators in with your leo? hahaha just kidding! I never find anything interesting up here in pennsylvania cool idea with the shell though. I would think just wash/soak in boiling hot water then put it in the oven and it should be alright. If you're really worried I mix a 10% bleach solution and soak branches for my leaf tails terrarium. Although I dont know how well bleach would go on the turtles shell.

 

[Dimidiata]

Me thinks ill keep the bleach away from the turtle shell. I was actually shedding i guesss when it died so there was a tad bit of peel off around the shell. Now comes the hard part, getting it in my checkin bag and safley home XD. Saw a giant alligator snapper today. will be out at the hunting camp tomarrow, theres a 3rd shell i want to see. I may end up with two, one for my kingsnake and one for the leo.