2956. Under-feeding a terrapin for 7 years

Monday, July 27, 2015.
"The 7-year-old terrapin does not have swollen eyes," I said. "However, he is underweight and has the shell length of a 1-year-old".

The owner wanted to prevent obesity. So he feed 5 pellets every 2 days and allow the terrapin, measuring 7 cm in shell length. The shell was bleached light brown. The terrapin loved to be submerged in water most of the time and would snap at the pellets eagerly. A calcium tablet in the shape of a terrapin was put in the water every 2 months, so the water is filled with this calcium.

Today, the terrapin's neck area has loose flabby skin, as if, swollen. "This swelling occurs in the past week," the gentleman said.

It is hard to know what causes this neck swelling. It could be calcium deposits near the thoracic inlet, nutritional imbalance with too much calcium or a tumour.



The back leg muscles and skin were normal and not flabby.

Removal of the calcium, allow more time to bask by not giving water all the time, a variety of food and sunshine, including medication dripped into the pellets for the next 14 days. We will need to follow up.