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When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 14 May 2017, 20:35
by Bigjoe
This is what happens when incorrect diet,habitat,husbandry is applied....female Mississippi map Turtle...little one was taken From the previous keepers along with two others that surprisely weren't suffering from MBD,apparently all were purchased at the same time but that doesn't sit still with me..all three were homed with us until today when they all were released into their new outdoor pond to spend a natural life..such a friendly little Turtle we wanted to keep her but she'll have a good life where she is now.
Joe

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 14 May 2017, 20:36
by Bigjoe
Two more pics of little Philly and their new home

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 14 May 2017, 22:41
by Nina
My goodness, that poor turtle really is deformed, isn't she? Thank goodness you rescued her, Joe, and that pond she is going into looks like a bit of paradise for her, so at least the rest of her life will be a happy one. Is that someone's personal pond? It's amazing!

Nina

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 14 May 2017, 23:45
by Bigjoe
One of two ponds Nina..the other pond was a little to far from the house but just as beautiful...we have a little group of wonderful Turtle ladies who all have amazing ponds/lakes and love Turtles,between them we have rehomed 10 with them...yep she does have real bad MBD..apart from this she is very active and eats like a champ ( correct diet now )

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 15 May 2017, 08:58
by Nina
How super to have found those turtle ladies! I remember that turtles were always really difficult for Mary Datson when she was doing re-homing for the BCG, because so many were abandoned or needed re-homing (especially red-eared sliders), and the problem was always to find people with proper facilities to take them. You and the turtle ladies are doing a brilliant job, Joe!

Nina

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 15 May 2017, 15:53
by Elaine
Thank you Joe and Paula for going the extra mile for these guys. I would have put money on this little one being a keeper as she was such a friendly little character. I'm glad you didn't as she has such an amazing setup to do what she was born to do and sadly there will be more knocking at your door.

Swim free little one!
Elaine

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 11 Jun 2017, 16:31
by Heather
Sorry to be thick - what is MBD? (in words - I can see it clearly in action!). I realise it will probably be blindingly obvious when you tell me.

Heather

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 11 Jun 2017, 16:39
by Helen
It's Metabolic Bone Disease Heather.

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 11 Jun 2017, 20:08
by Nina
Hi Heather,

If you want to read a bit more about Metabolic Bone Disease here is a link (but if you google it you will find lots more):
http://africantortoise.com/metabolic_bone_disease.htm

Nina

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 05 Oct 2017, 22:29
by Heather
Hi again on this thread - lovely ponds, to which I aspire! However, are they in this country (GB) & if so - are the turtles gathered up to indoors over winter?

Heather

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 06 Oct 2017, 07:39
by Nina
Yes, if I remember correctly the ponds are in this country, and as far as I know, Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) hibernate a the bottom of a pond in winter. I have read that they do like it to be relatively cold (5C or below), and they are quite happy hibernating at the bottom even when there is ice on the pond (when in hibernation their needs for oxygen are very low). Hopefully Joe, who started the thread will come in with more information, or correct me if I'm wrong.

Nina

Re: When keepers get it completely wrong...

Posted: 07 Oct 2017, 20:53
by Bigjoe
Correct Nina..this is a very deep pond with natural substrate,they have had plenty of time to acclimatiz to their new home,I've been to some good ponds in Kentucky where maps are both summer and winter time,one winter the ice was so thick you could stand in it...how they survive in these conditions is remarkable.