October 24, 2002
I put Fish's heater in today (it's the long tube thing squashed between the tank side and the filter). It was 20ºC today and I was afraid he might be cold - he wasn't moving much, though he still wants to eat the whole can of ReptoMin! I'll have to put it in sooner or later, anyway, even though it's supposed to warm up next week. Can't hurt to keep the water a little warmer!!
I've had it running for about half an hour now, and it's brought the water temperature exactly where I wanted it - 28ºC. I read somewhere that turtles function best around 30ºC and figured it couldn't hurt to keep his water summery all year (although it's still not quite warm enough to be a Hong Kong summer!).
cold fish | 08:10 PM | ReptoMin? (1)October 23, 2002
Look how blunt Fish's claws are! This is all due to his rock-climbing. Look how sharp his claws were three months ago when I'd just got him the rock! They were even sharper before that.
I've decided to increase Fish's daily ration from 4 sticks of ReptoMin to 5. After all, he is a big 6 cm turtle now. His growth seems to have slowed down some, but of course that could be because it's getting cooler. Can't tell whether he feels it though - tank temperatures have only dropped from 29ºC to 24ºC. If it gets much colder I'll put the heater in. One more thing to clean, to be sure, but I don't want Fish to hibernate! He's not much fun when he's asleep! 
October 14, 2002
At last, a recent photo of Fish! This was taken with the webcam a couple of days ago and extensively tweaked in Paint Shop Pro to get it sharp :) He was a good turtle that day and came up to the front of the aquarium so I could get a picture.
Fish has started eating apple again (sort of - he bites it now, at least!) and I've also found he won't eat pear, but he really likes corn. I take the hard transparent covering off the kernels and drop it in the water. He seems to enjoy it - he turned in circles with his nose to the floor, looking for more.
food for thought | 04:53 PM | ReptoMin? (2)October 08, 2002
Yes, I know, it's been an awful long time since I posted, but nothing much has happened recently and there's not a lot of incentive to post now my digicam's gone -
...oh, alright, I was lazy :)
Anyway, today's photo is Fish sleeping. Most turtles (that I've seen, anyway) sleep all 'shelled up' with their legs and paws and head and tail tucked in. Not Fish. He's not afraid something will sneak up and nibble on his toes during the night.
Or maybe he's just too fat. The other day he got scared (Dad was brushing his shell clean of slime) and he couldn't fit into his shell properly. If he's got his head all the way in, his feet have to come out, and vice versa.
That's why I'm considering scheduling another fast day for him in the week. He already eats nothing on Sundays, and I haven't increased his food ration (4 sticks a day and random bits of fruit and vegetable, depending on what I'm eating) since July, though he was a whole centimetre smaller then.
Perhaps I should start an exercise regimen too - periodic strolls on my desk might slim him down some, though I'm worried it might be stressful for him.
What do you think?
sleepy fat Fish | 09:17 PM | ReptoMin? (6)
(All are very good information resources - and the forum is especially good, lots of knowledgable turtle nuts there! :D)
