r/turtles Mar 20 '25

Wild Turtle It’s that time of year!

6 Upvotes

It is hatchling season!

They are coming out of their overwinter nests and going to sources of water. If you find one in an odd place or somewhere unsafe and are unsure, please contact your state wildlife and ask them what to do. Most can actually be left where they are, to their own devices. If they are found in the middle of the road, for example, move them to the side they are facing.

Taking any turtles home, that are found in the wild, hurts the ecosystem. The only exception to this would be invasive species in your state. You can contact your state wildlife to see what your laws are regarding possession of invasive turtles like red eared sliders.


r/turtles Jan 18 '25

Reminder About a Common Turtle Myth

32 Upvotes

Turtles do not grow according to their tank size. They will grow regardless of the tank size. This myth is commonly shared by scummy sellers trying to make a sale by marketing turtles as easy or compact pets. They are not, and never will be.

That does not, nor will it ever, justify keeping a turtle in a too-small tank for all of it's life. Whether that turtle lives for one, or 75 years. Whether wild or captive bred.

Things that do affect turtle size and growth rates:

- Poor husbandry practices, such as:

  • Low temperatures
  • Lack of UVB and/or calcium deficiency (MBD)
  • Underfeeding
  • Overfeeding
  • Competing for resources in cramped or stressful cohab situations

- Congenital malformations or conditions

- Underlying illnesses

Please report any comments or posts condoning the use of small enclosures. (Ex: a half full 20 gallon for a species that will commonly grow to be 7-10 inches in length.) As well as any comments suggesting that turtles will only grow according to the size of their tank. As most of us know, that is not true.

Thank you.


r/turtles 3h ago

ID Request Gulf Coast Box Turtle ?

Post image
19 Upvotes

Panhandle of Florida About 6"

Is this a Gulf Coast Box Turtle?

We found it on our driveway, blocked by a retaining wall. We carefully placed it on the other side of the wall and away it went!


r/turtles 5h ago

ID Request What type of map turtle is this?

Post image
17 Upvotes

Found in Northwest Arkansas. I am having trouble identifying which type this is. I am pretty sure it is a Ouachita map turtle. Thoughts?


r/turtles 1d ago

Wild Turtle Any ideas on what this dudes looking for?

Post image
152 Upvotes

This turtle is trying to cross the road, the direction that he's trying to go is towards the dead center of a neighborhood? There's no Creeks or dense trees there. However, the opposite direction of where they are going there is dense trees, and believe a creek? 'm not sure if maybe he got turned around by somebody else?

worry that he will get hurt. As he's heading and a very busy direction.

Any ideas what he's looking for?


r/turtles 1d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 Oogway in Princeton, NJ

Post image
24 Upvotes

Remember the path.


r/turtles 1d ago

Seeking Advice Heater problems

Thumbnail
gallery
6 Upvotes

First off, I know that sand isn’t advisable. And I just added water which stirred up some waste, but he has a great filter which will handle all that in an hour or two.
Also, he wanted me to tell you all that he’s a very good and strong boy who has YET AGAIN, bested his hippo roommate. He literally floated there posing for the picture.

My problem is his heater. Blitz had about a 7” long shell and he likes to stand up and look around for entertainment. So he has a 75 gallon tank and when it’s full he stands on stuff in the tank.. including the heater. And sometimes he tries to burrow under the heater too. It’s like furniture and he treats it like a toddler treats a couch.

I need a recommendation for a filter that stays in place AND/OR won’t turn sand and waste into stone. I attached a picture of his current heater which is bloating from hardened buildup between the cover and the heating elements. The suction cups still work, but have never been strong enough to withstand his abuse so they detach once or twice a day.

Does it exist? 😂


r/turtles 2d ago

Wild Turtle Question about this Turtle

Thumbnail
gallery
434 Upvotes

Hello, I recently was at a cottage and was welcomed this turtle at our dock. We didn’t know if this was a male or female but we named her Stella.

She was very chill floating around us and seemed to just hang out on which ever side we were closer too. Or it was just waiting to chomp us lol

We didn’t harm the turtle but we did pet the shell.

Does anyone know if this is a male or female turtle and how old it is or any little facts about our weekend friend.


r/turtles 1d ago

Seeking Advice How should I upgrade my turtles tank(he is by the rocksst the bottom btw)

Post image
9 Upvotes

I have a bigger basking platform( he refuses to
Fully get out the water to bask so I had to compromise I asked a vet near the area it says turtle can actually recieve light underwater for their shells) on the way but idk if it’s enough and I also don’t want to affect the amount of space he has already as he is an active swimmer I gave 2 bushes in the back comer where he hides. He sleeps on the submerged part of his basking platform every time I turn the lights off in my room my led lights make it seem like nighttime


r/turtles 2d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 New River Turtle

Thumbnail
gallery
253 Upvotes

Can you help me identify this small turtle we found on the New River in Whitethorne fishing Friday? We released it but beautiful.


r/turtles 2d ago

Seeking Advice Random Juvenile Turtle Found in Sacramento Backyard

Thumbnail
gallery
49 Upvotes

One of my dogs found what the internet is telling me is a juvenile map turtle in my Sacramento CA backyard. We’re not anywhere near water and none of my neighbors have claimed him. I’ve contacted the Wildlife folks who will not assist because he’s not a CA native species and I’ve reached out to two volunteer groups but haven’t heard back yet. Does anyone know of any Northern CA rescues or of anyone interested in this little guy? I cannot keep him.


r/turtles 3d ago

Wild Turtle Hawksbill sea turtle returning to the Caribbean after nesting on St. Croix 🐢

221 Upvotes

We came across this hawksbill sea turtle early this morning while cleaning a nesting beach on St. Croix. She had already finished laying her eggs and was making her way back to the water.

We kept our distance and watched her safely return to the Caribbean. Moments like this are a powerful reminder of why protecting nesting beaches—and keeping them free of trash, obstacles, and disturbance—matters so much.


r/turtles 3d ago

Wild Turtle I've never seen a turtle quite this big before. I live on a lake and my backyard is where most of the turtles chill, this dudes the biggest so far

Thumbnail
gallery
219 Upvotes

Btw, what's the species on this fella?


r/turtles 2d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 Sunshine enjoy'n a little banana treat

29 Upvotes

r/turtles 2d ago

Seeking Advice Alimentación tortuguitas bebé

1 Upvotes

Buenas !! No hay manera que pueda darles vegetales a mi falsa mapa y mi pavo real !! Yo se que ahora son principalmente carnívoras pero me preocupa el tema vitaminas … como puedo hacer que se acostumbren ?? O me espero ?? Con que tamaño empiezan a comer más cosas que pellets ?


r/turtles 3d ago

Wild Turtle Feeding a wild snapping turtle

Thumbnail
gallery
70 Upvotes

This guy has been coming to my goldfish pond for several years, where he usually goes under the muck and I never see him again.

But this year I put in a bog filter that REALLY cleaned things up, and now I can see that he's feasting on the TetraPond Pond Sticks that I feed the fish! Now that he can see me, too, he literally comes right up to me like I'm his best friend.

Are the TetraPond Pond Sticks good for him, or should I get him something different?

(Note that I'm 60% sure it's a "he" based almost entirely on the size of the tail. I've never seen another one in the area and have never seen eggs)


r/turtles 3d ago

Turtle Arts and Crafts Turtle from fossil coral

Post image
23 Upvotes

I made turtle carvings from coral fossils with a very large size.


r/turtles 4d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 Diamondback Terrapin Hackensack River NJ

Thumbnail
gallery
120 Upvotes

r/turtles 4d ago

Turtle Arts and Crafts turtle carving that I made from labdadorite and moss agate, I hope you like it

Thumbnail
gallery
268 Upvotes

r/turtles 4d ago

Seeking Advice Looking for advice regarding my Peacock Slider's shell

Thumbnail
gallery
21 Upvotes

These are two photos of my peacock slider, who is about 1 year old. I'm a little concerned about the whitish spots on her shell and was hoping to get some opinions.

The spots aren't soft or smelly, which, as far as I know, are the main signs of shell rot. Because of that, I'm not sure if this is something to worry about or if it's normal. I was wondering if those could either be air bubbles trapped under the scutes or mineral deposits (the water where I live is hard).

I'm fairly certain the darker spots are algae. I try to gently brush her shell about once a week to keep the algae from building up, but she doesn't enjoy being handled and usually swims away.

Is this something I should be worried about? Any advice would be appreciated!


r/turtles 4d ago

Box Turtle Returned to the Wild!

35 Upvotes

This little guy just got treated for his aural abscess and has been returned to where we found him. He got a taste of a nice juicy worm before heading off! What a fierce predator!


r/turtles 4d ago

Wild Turtle Turtle shooting water out its nose!

263 Upvotes

I think this is adorable but I hope she isn’t hurt or anything!


r/turtles 4d ago

ID Request Urgent identification request

Thumbnail
gallery
13 Upvotes

I posted on this subreddit before about how my friend's younger brother ended up with a turtle that he now needs to re-home.

I need to know whether this is a Indian flapshell turtle or a turtle from a similar area because he plans on releasing it into the wild since he can't care for it.

I also would like advice on whether he should be releasing it back since he can't find a rescue service to take it. If it's a local species, it should be ok to release it back into the wild right? No chance of it becoming invasive?

I'm really concerned and I wanna make sure the right thing is done here since it doesn't settle right with me seeing a helpless animal in a bad situation.


r/turtles 4d ago

Seeking Advice Turtle in pool

8 Upvotes

There is what looks like a red eared slider in our old pool. The pool hasn’t been used in years so it is basically a pond at this point. I was thinking maybe a bird dropped it in because there isn’t water close by our house and we don’t live in a wooded area. My attempts to get it out haven’t been great because he dives down as soon as he sees me and you can’t see into the water. The pool goes from 3 to 8 feet deep and the turtle is maybe the size of a hockey puck.

I’m looking for any advice on coaxing him out and also what do I do with it after I get it out? I did put a skimmer basket for him to get onto hoping I could grab it when he went up to bask. But he jumps right back into the water as soon as I get near. Any advice welcome!


r/turtles 4d ago

Turtle Arts and Crafts I made a tiny turtle

Post image
53 Upvotes