Help identifying my terrapin, and any advice about care greatly appreciated!

[SarahFDuncan]

[SarahFDuncan]

Hey, I just got 2 terrapins 3 weeks ago, one unfortunately died (not that I was that surprised, I'm in China and he was being sold in a boiling supermarket in a tiny plastic cup he couldn't move in with no water, and wouldn't come out of his shell even when he was placed on the floor or react at all when prodded by little kids, poor guy). So this is the one that's left, anything more than that he's pretty young I don't know though, so any help would be brilliant, thankyou! And also, is it better for them to have company, and if so, is it best to get another of the same species or does it not matter? And how do I make sure of the sex when they're young still, so I don't end up with lots of little hatchlings?!

Also about their diet, I tried giving them fresh shrimps, lettuce and cut up green beans a few times, but they would never eat them, he eats his pellet feed a lot but I'm a bit worried about the fact they're supposed to have a varied diet. Also, he's developed a light mark above one of his eyes, any idea what this could be or what I should do? He also has developed some soft brown marks on his shell, I'm really not doing very well and feel very bad! I don't know how to go about finding vets, never mind reptile ones, here in Beijing, so I'm at a bit of a loss! His diet definitely isn't varied enough, I think that's the main problem, what would be best for calcium, etc? I guess that would help the shell...

Oh and one more thing, should he be in direct sunlight or not? I've read in different places that he should be and shouldn't be. I haven't managed to find a basking lamp yet, although he does have a water heater and a dry basking area, and i've made little piles of rocks under the water and he's got plastic plants for cover. I did have some real water plants in there but they just died and dirtied the water really quickly, is there anything I'm missing?

Thanks very much for any help! (And sorry for bothering everyone with such basic questions and such a long post!)

Sarah

[Geomyda]

Looks like a Reeves Terrapin (Chinemys reevesi). Whilst these are farmed in China, they are actually a native species.
Are there many of this species for sale in the pet market, over there?

[SarahFDuncan]

Masses, but then there are loads of pretty much very kind of reptile (some really weird-looking ones) and fish and bird and beast. Does he need to be with another of the same species do you think, or will any do? Thanks very much for your help!

[bosshogg]

Originally Posted by SarahFDuncan

Hey, I just got 2 terrapins 3 weeks ago, one unfortunately died (not that I was that surprised, I'm in China and he was being sold in a boiling supermarket in a tiny plastic cup he couldn't move in with no water, and wouldn't come out of his shell even when he was placed on the floor or react at all when prodded by little kids, poor guy). So this is the one that's left, anything more than that he's pretty young I don't know though, so any help would be brilliant, thankyou! And also, is it better for them to have company, and if so, is it best to get another of the same species or does it not matter? And how do I make sure of the sex when they're young still, so I don't end up with lots of little hatchlings?!

Also about their diet, I tried giving them fresh shrimps, lettuce and cut up green beans a few times, but they would never eat them, he eats his pellet feed a lot but I'm a bit worried about the fact they're supposed to have a varied diet. Also, he's developed a light mark above one of his eyes, any idea what this could be or what I should do? He also has developed some soft brown marks on his shell, I'm really not doing very well and feel very bad! I don't know how to go about finding vets, never mind reptile ones, here in Beijing, so I'm at a bit of a loss! His diet definitely isn't varied enough, I think that's the main problem, what would be best for calcium, etc? I guess that would help the shell...

Oh and one more thing, should he be in direct sunlight or not? I've read in different places that he should be and shouldn't be. I haven't managed to find a basking lamp yet, although he does have a water heater and a dry basking area, and i've made little piles of rocks under the water and he's got plastic plants for cover. I did have some real water plants in there but they just died and dirtied the water really quickly, is there anything I'm missing?

Thanks very much for any help! (And sorry for bothering everyone with such basic questions and such a long post!)

Sarah

Hi Sarah as was said he looks like reeves turtle, here is a link to a very good care sheet that should cover everything you need to Know, he is also fine been kept alone
Chinemys reevesii* (Reeve's Turtle) Care – Darrell Senneke*