Re: two headed turtle

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Posted by JeffP on May 30, 2000 at 14:37:03:

In Reply to: Re: two headed turtle posted by EricO on May 26, 2000 at 11:36:37:

Someone that I know has raised up 3 two-headed RES, from hatchlings to 5" shell lengths. The important factor seems to be how the turtles are joined. The only 3 that survived were normal bodies with two heads. When they have forked plastrons, they tend to twist towards each other as they grow. It gets increasingly more impossible for them to move or function. To the date, all three 5" are still doing fine. They are kept in a 55gal, with about 5" depth on the water. The basking areas are gently sloping rocks. Both heads on each seem to eat well on a normal diet. I know that he tends to favor Reptomin, so I'm sure that thats the bulk of what he feeds. The turtles are approximately 3yrs old at this time. He has tried a couple of other species, but neither made it. They were a florida softshell and some type of map. The only apparent and consistent flaw on the RES trio is in their carapaces. All of them developed ripples or dents in their shells. Eric is right, it is important to keep hatchlings in very shallow water. These were raised in about 1" until they grew and were stronger. Thats all the info I know on 2-heads, hope it helps.

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: Someone that I know has raised up 3 two-headed RES, from hatchlings to 5" shell lengths. The important factor seems to be how the turtles are joined. The only 3 that survived were normal bodies with two heads. When they have forked plastrons, they tend to twist towards each other as they grow. It gets increasingly more impossible for them to move or function. To the date, all three 5" are still doing fine. They are kept in a 55gal, with about 5" depth on the water. The basking areas are gently sloping rocks. Both heads on each seem to eat well on a normal diet. I know that he tends to favor Reptomin, so I'm sure that thats the bulk of what he feeds. The turtles are approximately 3yrs old at this time. He has tried a couple of other species, but neither made it. They were a florida softshell and some type of map. The only apparent and consistent flaw on the RES trio is in their carapaces. All of them developed ripples or dents in their shells. Eric is right, it is important to keep hatchlings in very shallow water. These were raised in about 1" until they grew and were stronger. Thats all the info I know on 2-heads, hope it helps.

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