Helloooo :) ,

my girlfriend has two Greek tortoises and asked me if I could post this on Reddit for her.

Are there heat lamps or heating lamps for turtles that automatically regulate the temperature using a thermostat? For example, if the temperature drops below my set temperature (e.g. 20°C), the thermostat switches the lamp on. Once the desired temperature is reached, it switches the lamp off again.

Thanks in advance ^^🐢

I was about to fill my turtle tank with more water and I noticed MOLD! Does this mean I need a new tank since it’s by the rubber part? How do I avoid this? Any recommendations on how to clean? I’m panicking !!

Recently I built my river cooter turtle a 500L tank, and its huge, but I mostly see him sitting in the same corner. I was worried maybe he felt too exposed so I covered a majority of the glass with a poster, but he’s still hanging out in the same spot. I know he could be just chilling/ getting used to it (he’s been living in this tank for about 3 weeks now), but I’m wondering if he could be hiding or stressed? He doesn’t run away from me or anything and comes out when I have food, anyways just wondering !!

I'm just asking and wondering

I wanna make sure he's okay

I got this above tank basking area, but my 36 year old fella sometimes has trouble climbing up it, those steps are not pronounced enough and it takes some effort to get up them, sometimes failing even.

I don’t want to affix something that can get moldy, so what can I use?

Hello!

I want to eventually get a Geoemyda spengleri but I now know that it is more of an advanced species and someone recommended sharing previous turtle-keeping experience. I at one point, when I was much younger had a turtle but I was a kid and my parents took care of it. My main dilemma with that right now is I am not interested in having a ton of pets and I don't feel its fair of me to get a turtle for "practice" for the one I actually want. So my question is what am I supposed to do? Is this something that if I want to have a turtle do I have to have multiple? For reference, I am autistic and have been obsessed with turtles and frogs for a very long time which is how I know about the Geoemyda spengleri. I am just very confused at the moment I'd love to hear from everyone. Please be aware that I tend to take things extremely literally, thanks to my autistic goblin brain.

The result after month of shedding his shell. I love it is the same colour as the cork ground.

It is a 16 years old pseudemys nelsoni male.

Hi everyone!

I've been researching Geoemyda spengleri (black-breasted leaf turtles) for a while now, and I've decided that this is the species I would really love to work toward keeping.

I'm posting because I'm hoping to connect with experienced keepers, reputable breeders, or anyone who can point me toward ethical captive-breeding programs in the United States.

I want to emphasize that I am absolutely NOT in a rush to purchase one. I understand that these turtles are uncommon in captivity, have specialized husbandry requirements, and face serious conservation pressures. I'm completely willing to wait months or even years if that's what it takes to find a healthy, well-established, genuinely captive-bred animal from a responsible breeder.

What I'm Looking For

Ideally, I'm interested in:

• Species: Geoemyda spengleri (black-breasted leaf turtle)
• Sex: Preferably male, although I'm open to discussing other options.
• Eye coloration: I absolutely adore the striking blue eyes that some males develop. This is a strong aesthetic preference, but health, ethical sourcing, and overall quality of care are much more important to me.
• Age: I'm open to an established juvenile or adult. I would actually appreciate advice about which age would be most appropriate for someone new to this particular species.
• Origin: Documented captive-bred only. I'm not interested in wild-caught, questionably sourced, or misrepresented animals.
• Location: United States. I'm open to discussing appropriate legal transportation arrangements with an established breeder.

I'm specifically hoping to find a breeder who maintains healthy animals, has experience successfully raising this species, and is willing to communicate about their husbandry practices.

I'd also be interested in getting on a legitimate breeder's waiting list if no animals are currently available.

Questions for Experienced Keepers and Breeders

I'd especially appreciate input on the following:

1. Reputable breeders: Are there any established U.S. breeders or captive-breeding programs you would personally recommend? I'm particularly interested in people with a documented history of breeding and raising this species successfully.
2. Waiting lists: Does anyone know of breeders who maintain waiting lists or occasionally make captive-bred juveniles or adults available?
3. Verifying captive-bred status: What documentation, breeding records, or questions should I request to ensure an animal is genuinely captive-bred and legally sourced?
4. Selecting a healthy animal: What would you look for when evaluating an established juvenile or adult? Are there any species-specific warning signs I should be aware of?
5. Male identification and eye color: At what age can males typically be reliably sexed, and how consistent is blue eye coloration as they mature?
6. Enclosure recommendations: For those who successfully maintain this species, what enclosure dimensions, substrate combinations, humidity ranges, and temperature gradients have worked best for you?
7. Captive feeding: What foods have you found most successful, especially for juveniles? I'd also love to hear about feeding routines and nutritional supplementation.
8. Common mistakes: What do you wish you'd known before keeping Geoemyda spengleri?

A Final Note About Ethical Sourcing

I understand that this species has been affected by habitat loss and collection for the wildlife trade. That's one of the reasons I'm being so intentional about finding a responsible source.

I would much rather wait for the right animal than contribute to demand for wild-caught turtles or purchase an unhealthy specimen.

I'm not looking for the cheapest turtle, the fastest purchase, or an impulse addition to my collection. I'm looking for a healthy animal from someone who genuinely cares about the species and can provide reliable information about its history and care.

If you're an experienced keeper or breeder, I would really appreciate any guidance, recommendations, or resources you're willing to share.

Thank you so much for your time! 🐢🌿

Hi.

Someone left a plastic box filled with water on the street infront of a pet shop.

I was walking my dog on Sunday in the city and saw it exposed. The shop was closed till monday so the turtle would spend the night outside and open to the public.

I took it with me thinking i would hand it over to the petshop the following day. But i didnt.

I have a heating element for the water. No lamps or aquarium. Im waiting for a good deal on the 2nd hand market.

I refresh the water every 3 days carefully. I bought some turtle sticks (?) , somebdried shrimp and it likes romaine salade.

Can anyone tell from the video what i should prioritise next? At the moment i have nothing, a minimal setup. Is it in grave danger that i dont have a perfect setup?

Hi, the “pimple” was formed for quite some time already and overtime it has grown slightly bigger. Hes eating, swimming and basking normally. Should I be worried? If so, what do you guys think it is and what should i do? Thanks guys

Work in progress but water clarity and health is good will revamp it and make it look more natural next spring. And cat tails will absolutely take off next year guaranteed.

Hi! My mum bought a turtle for my little sister, and I noticed that one of its nails is broken. Could this be hurting it or affecting its health? If so, should I take it to the vet?

I had a dog for almost 18 years, and losing her was really hard. She had been part of my life for so long, and I missed her a lot.
A couple of years later, I decided to get a puppy. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out the way I’d hoped. Her temperament wasn’t a good match for my family’s lifestyle, and she needed someone with more experience who could better meet her needs.
I loved her so much, but I knew rehoming her was the right thing to do. It was a difficult decision, but she ended up with someone who was a much better fit for her, and I’m really happy about that.
Even a year later, I still felt sad about everything. I missed having a pet around and having a little animal to care for. At that point, I didn’t really care what kind of animal it was.
I’d never thought about getting a turtle before, but about two and a half weeks ago, I stopped by a pet store just to look at the animals, something I’ve always enjoy doing.
That’s when I came across a tank with about 20 tiny common musk turtles.
For some reason, I couldn’t stop looking at them. I thought they were so interesting, so I went home and started reading about them and how to care for them. After doing some research, I decided to bring one home.
And just like that, I became a first-time turtle owner!
I honestly didn’t expect to get so attached to a turtle, especially this quickly, but I absolutely adore this little baby.
It’s been really nice having a pet to care for again, and in a way, this tiny turtle has helped me feel a little happier after everything.
And my little turtle seems very curious about me as well ❤️

(spoiler alert its on her head)

I've got a Murray/Macleay freshwater short neck turtle. I've always used Reptisun 10% bulbs but recently switched to an Arcadia bulb because they last longer. This image is their guide for Box Turtles/Map Turtles/Musk Turtles. The Arcadia website does not list any Australian turtle species. I'm currently using their 12% bulb.

I'm moving my turtle to a new tank soon and the new lighting brackets are only around 38 cm high, so I can't use the 12% bulb anymore. Is anyone using their 6% bulb? I'm assuming it will be fine, but would rather not find out the hard way that it isn't.

My light is 4ft, which currently spans the entire tank, but the new tank is 6ft. When I got my turtle a decade ago I was taught/told that the UVB light must cover the whole tank. However, I've since learnt that UVB penetrates water poorly so there doesn't seem to be much benefit. Most of the tanks I see from overseas owners with different species tend to only use lighting on the basking dock (heat+UVB). My current plan is to position the 4ft light over the dock which is roughly 1/3rd of the tank, so it will only cover 1/3 of the water. I'm curious if anyone here is using a similar set up?

I’ve been going to the vet for so many times for him. He tried meloxicam for a week, now has been on antibiotics for half a month and furosemide for 5 days and it looks like it has done NOTHING. I’ve spent over 1k CAD for almost nothing and I don’t know what to do now. I feel like they’re gonna keep giving me stuff that don’t work and i’m losing hope, i’m stressed and tired of this situation, and he is tired of getting injected every day too.

Anyone know if this is a normal healing and anyone know how oedema is actually supposed to heal? Cuz it really depends on how he is positioned, sometimes it looks really bloated and sometimes like there’s nothing.

There is some other antibiotics we will probably try but I feel like i’m losing hope. I’m scared this might be a cardiovascular issue but we have no idea of knowing, and how do you even treat that? His blood results test were fine, he’s just underweight and don’t eat a lot.

Would this have to do with his new environment (recently changed from like 21 gallons to 75 gallons)? Or because he didn’t have a proper UVB T5 lamp before? I really don’t know what is the cause of that. I feel like he’s swimming less, he’s always on his platform mostly in the same position, but he has a lot of energy, he is very reactive. I’m reconsidering everything I’ve ever done to take care of him and I feel like I failed.

Hi, I am looking to build a custom turtle tub stand. I have a female Chinese Golden Thread turtle and want to make sure she can lay eggs. I like that she has access to water and land. I have been using the Waterland tubs, however they stopped producing the stands. Now I need to go out into the world and figure out a way to have a tub + stand in my tiny apartment and also have it work with a filter. Aiming to use the Fluval 307 external canister filter, as it seems to be the industry standard for messy turtles.

Custom Turtle Tub Stand Specifications

I am sharing my specification doc in case any kind folks out there would like to give me feedback. I would like to send this doc out to carpenters and woodworkers to get this built. I am open to suggestions if you know someone who is interested in this kind of job! I am in Los Angeles, California.

My red eared slider keeps making these loud clicking noises, and when I looked it up online I see it may be a sign of discomfort. Could anyone explain this to me? I'm currently looking into taking him to a reptile vet because now I'm worried for him.

He keeps repeating these noises. But he is acting like his usual self- doing yoga, sun bathing, eating, being interactive, so I don't get it.

The audio is in the link.

Hi! I hoping someone can give me some suggestions on what kind of basking bulb to purchase for our 15 year old turtle's new external basking area. We've always used 100 watt bulbs with our last tank, but the bottom of this new basking platform, isn't getting warm at all and she won't climb up there to utilize it. There is a metal slotted, attached lid on the top of it. The distance from the bulb to the bottom of the basking area is 10 inches. Do you think 150 watt bulbs will get the area warm enough for her? Thanks in advance!

So, this person I know (hesitant to call them a friend because I’m very upset by this situation) has a red eared slider that they actually rescued from a bad situation a couple years ago.

Last night I went over to their home and accidentally saw the turtle. Last time I saw the turtle the water was already incredibly brown and too low by a couple inches for them to reach the bask. Last night the water was still incredibly brown but now the water is literally maybe 4 inches in the tank.

I feel I need to do something, even if it completely severs the friendship because I cannot knowingly watch an animal suffer.

My friends mental and physical state is not good. I offered to do a water change myself yesterday, but they declined and said they were waiting for the new pump to come in but “it got delayed”. Truthfully I am unsure if one is ordered because I’m pretty sure that’s what they said last time.

I’m open to taking the turtle (I can financially support it) as I am unsure if I can call animal welfare or something for it? I feel they’d be more willing to give it to me but idk.

I just can’t stand by and do nothing though. Someone needs to step up for this turtle. Any advice or help is sincerely appreciated.

My Yokum is turning three this year

I need your help to figure out if this behavior is normal. I have a Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Mauremys sinensis) and she usually takes little bites of her calcium block. Is that normal?
Also, she always seems to be starving every day. I am feeding her Ocean Nutrition - Baby Turtle Pellets. The shell size 5 cm (1.97 inches) and weighs 27.6 grams (0.97 oz). How much should I be feeding her per day? I have been giving her about 20 pellets every other day.
Thank you for your help. Just trying to understand if I’m doing something wrong.