need help, is it edema or osmosis

[karen testa]

karen testa

May 24, 2009 at 4:38 pm #22505

i just rescued a yearling from horrible conditions, i have him since thursday and my little boy is swelling up in the front quarters not noticable in the back. i have him in a salt mix of 1.006 as he has been in fresh his whole life. i dont know what i should do for him right now. i thought this happened when they go from salt to fresh not the other way around. please help!The newbie was in a death bowl his whole life (almost 2)that had about 1/2 inch of filthy water(never changed), no uvb and just ate pellets and an occasional feeder fish. He had about 1/8 inch of gunk on his shell a bit of shell rot on the plastron, that i feel i can handle.My main question is, what exactly am i looking for before i can put him in with Darla?(i will wait 90 days) I brought a fecal sample to the vet and waiting on the response, but ive heard that a fecal sometimes doesnt show anything. I am trying not to cross contaimenate, but it is extremely hard when you are touching food, water for testing etc. but i am managing. I have been corresponding with a reputable breeder and she mentioned that some turtles are ‘hosts’ and can kill a whole collection if exposed. How do i know if the newbie rescue is a ‘host’? what am i looking for in 90 days, He eats well and is very active and actually swam the first time which i was very surprised as he hadnt swam before. his limbs are very skinny but his shell seems too small for his ‘insides’ like he is popping out and his shell has some curl to the edges.he is 3 1/2 inches and 6 oz. and i cant tell male or female yet . his tail has been bitten and he lost a finger. he has no nails either.I think im on the right track, but could use some more advice. thanks in advance. here is a pic of the little guy.I named him Alfalfa, as he has freckes all over. i gave him a cuttlebone for the first time and he bit it immediatley. he also is now in semi brackish as i am slowly adding to the salinity. he hasnt basked and i hope he even knows how.(do they do this instinctivley?)

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