How Do I Help My Turtle When I'm Away For Grad School?

CmplxDame08 · 11-07-2009, 12:36 PM

I have an almost 9 year old red-ear slider and my sister just called me and told me her skin is peeling and I am really concerned. I've had my turtle since I was in middle school and I really love her. Right now she's in a bowl because my bf and I attempted to clean her tank and it cracked and I have been unable to get her a new one due to financial reasons. As a grad student at a very expensive university I have little or no extra money. So, I've been saving for another vet visit for her (when I go home for the holidays) and a new tank, docking station and light. I am really worried though because she has a peeling shell as well and the vet said it's due to a birth defect. Are there any second hand pet stores I could go to?

PsychGirly · 11-07-2009, 12:53 PM

I'm not sure where you live, so I can't look-up any 2nd hand pet stores, but if you're really desperate to get her help & in need of money, you can try pawning some things you may have.

Just find a local pawn shop & sell some items you don't really need or use, or find a place that buys used clothing & get rid of anything you don't really wear.

Cognitive_Canine · 11-07-2009, 12:56 PM

She's probably peeling due to the stress of being moved and being in a smaller area.

PsychGirly · 11-07-2009, 01:00 PM

She mentioned that it was a birth defect; however, I looked it up online, & it says that peeling shells are pretty normal for Red-Ear Sliders. I'm thinking maybe there are some things you can do to prevent further peeling. Try looking it up on the internet.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

KG · 11-07-2009, 01:08 PM

Peeling is normal, they are shedding the deead cells. But she should really be in a tank.

Do you have Freecycle.com where you live? It's where people ask for specific items, or offer, no $$ changes hands.

BTW, it's part of Yahoo groups.

sophie274 · 11-07-2009, 01:44 PM

Would your parents agree to pay for the tank/vet visit if you can reimburse them by Christmas? I think I would ask my parents to help out in a situation like this, where time is of the essence - ie she needs to be seen now not two months from now - and where I was confident I would be able to pay them back soon.

Freecycle is a great idea. There can be super cheap things on Craigslist too - take a lot in the pets section and maybe in the "furniture" section, and you can post an add asking for a tank too.

CmplxDame08 · 11-07-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sophie274

Would your parents agree to pay for the tank/vet visit if you can reimburse them by Christmas? I think I would ask my parents to help out in a situation like this, where time is of the essence - ie she needs to be seen now not two months from now - and where I was confident I would be able to pay them back soon.

Freecycle is a great idea. There can be super cheap things on Craigslist too - take a lot in the pets section and maybe in the "furniture" section, and you can post an add asking for a tank too.

My mom can't afford the tank right now unfortunately, I may just have put it on my credit card when I pay of the $300.00 balance I have right now.

CmplxDame08 · 11-07-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KG

Peeling is normal, they are shedding the deead cells. But she should really be in a tank.

Do you have Freecycle.com where you live? It's where people ask for specific items, or offer, no $$ changes hands.

BTW, it's part of Yahoo groups.

I don't know about freecycle I will look into it right now.

CmplxDame08 · 11-07-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychGirly

She mentioned that it was a birth defect; however, I looked it up online, & it says that peeling shells are pretty normal for Red-Ear Sliders. I'm thinking maybe there are some things you can do to prevent further peeling. Try looking it up on the internet.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

I will, the vet said she has a birth defect that makes her shell crack and peel and that if she wasn't in captivity she'd be dead. The shell defect makes her unable to fully retreat into it when predators try to attack.

CmplxDame08 · 11-07-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cognitive_Canine

She's probably peeling due to the stress of being moved and being in a smaller area.

Yeah, my mom went to petco and they told her that she needs a new tank asap.

11-07-2009, 12:36 PM	#1
CmplxDame08 Offline Gold Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Gender: None Specified Posts: 742	How Do I Help My Turtle When I'm Away For Grad School? I have an almost 9 year old red-ear slider and my sister just called me and told me her skin is peeling and I am really concerned. I've had my turtle since I was in middle school and I really love her. Right now she's in a bowl because my bf and I attempted to clean her tank and it cracked and I have been unable to get her a new one due to financial reasons. As a grad student at a very expensive university I have little or no extra money. So, I've been saving for another vet visit for her (when I go home for the holidays) and a new tank, docking station and light. I am really worried though because she has a peeling shell as well and the vet said it's due to a birth defect. Are there any second hand pet stores I could go to?

11-07-2009, 12:53 PM	#2
PsychGirly Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: LOS ANGELES Gender: Female Age: 22 Posts: 2,207	I'm not sure where you live, so I can't look-up any 2nd hand pet stores, but if you're really desperate to get her help & in need of money, you can try pawning some things you may have. Just find a local pawn shop & sell some items you don't really need or use, or find a place that buys used clothing & get rid of anything you don't really wear. __________________ "LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF BREATHS WE TAKE, BUT BY THE NUMBER OF MOMENTS THAT TAKE OUR BREATH AWAY."

11-07-2009, 01:00 PM	#4
PsychGirly Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: LOS ANGELES Gender: Female Age: 22 Posts: 2,207	She mentioned that it was a birth defect; however, I looked it up online, & it says that peeling shells are pretty normal for Red-Ear Sliders. I'm thinking maybe there are some things you can do to prevent further peeling. Try looking it up on the internet. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] __________________ "LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF BREATHS WE TAKE, BUT BY THE NUMBER OF MOMENTS THAT TAKE OUR BREATH AWAY."

11-07-2009, 01:08 PM	#5
KG Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 2 miles east of Hicksville Gender: Male Posts: 4,902	Peeling is normal, they are shedding the deead cells. But she should really be in a tank. Do you have Freecycle.com where you live? It's where people ask for specific items, or offer, no $$ changes hands. BTW, it's part of Yahoo groups. __________________ Life is just a word until you go through it. I've got the scars to prove it. Last edited by KG; 11-07-2009 at 01:08 PM. Reason: added

11-07-2009, 12:56 PM	#3
Cognitive_Canine Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Gender: Female Posts: 11,326	She's probably peeling due to the stress of being moved and being in a smaller area.

11-07-2009, 01:44 PM	#6
sophie274 Online Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,064	Would your parents agree to pay for the tank/vet visit if you can reimburse them by Christmas? I think I would ask my parents to help out in a situation like this, where time is of the essence - ie she needs to be seen now not two months from now - and where I was confident I would be able to pay them back soon. Freecycle is a great idea. There can be super cheap things on Craigslist too - take a lot in the pets section and maybe in the "furniture" section, and you can post an add asking for a tank too.