Requiring some help for a baby terrapin
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Attachments :Dear all,I found a baby terrapin, or at least I think its a terrapin, in my compound. Must have been brought in by the heavy rains and mild floods. It’s about 2cm wide and 3cm from nose to tail.Upon observation, I noticed that it doesn’t use its hind legs at all. Whether to crawl on the ground or swim in water, it always only uses its fore legs. When I touch the hind legs and tail, it pulls them in. So it does have feeling. This can’t be normal right? I figured it has somehow injured its hind legs and thought I should care for it until the injury heals before releasing it. I’m only afraid that it might fall prey to predators in this condition.Not knowing much about this, I researched online to identify its species so as to know what it eats and how I should build its home. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any photo that seems to look like it. From my research, I also found that tortoises and terrapins seem to look alike (pardon my ignorance) altho caring for them is quite different. I have attached 2 photos of it, one showing the shell and face, the other showing its underside. If you require another angle of it, please let me know.1. Can someone help me identify the species? That way I can narrow my search.2. From what you have read above, do you think I am doing it a favor by caring for it or should I just release it and let the little one fend for itself?3. What do I do about its “injured” hind legs? Is it injured at all? Do I use a method to encourage it to strengthen its legs?Finally, thanking all in advance for opinions and advice.Regards,Sharon Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check.Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta.
Hi Rick,I’m in Northeast Thailand, Khon Kaen City to be exact. It was found in my garden among grass. It had been raining heavily the past few days so the ground was quite saturated with water i.e. puddles here and there. I’m situated in a half-residential half-commercial area. On the right is a high school, in front are residential houses and behind is a non-maintained field with long grasses where cows are usually brought for feeding.I hope this helps.SharonRichard Stanley
Hi Sharon, What you have there is a Malayan Snail-eating Turtle (Malayemys subtrijuga). They feed primarily on snails, but will on occasion take other molluscs and insects. If you have access to water snails, then you could definitely consider trying to nurse it back to health if indeed it is injured. Otherwise, you should find a nearby paddy field or pond that is inhabited by snails and release it in shallow water. Our group owner used to keep these, maybe she’ll chime in when time allows. -Stephen C — In diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com, Sharon Teoh
Hi Stephen,I’m so happy you managed to identify it. Using its name, I managed to find an exact photo of it and a detailed article telling me how to care for it. I shall start hunting for water snails tomorrow.A million thanks Stephen! SharonStephen Chew
Well best of luck in caring for it, Sharon, they’re not the easiest of turtles to care for. Let us know how it does. -Stephen C — In diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com, Sharon Teoh
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