Bad news on the Turtle front. We’re a man down.

I returned last night to find one half of our pet duo sprawled out flat on a stone- turtle head stretched out of the water, eyes tight shut, looking a paler green than usual. Carefully picking him up by the shell, his floppy little body soon confirmed my worst fears. He was a goner.

Cause of death unknown although a small mark on the side of his neck which at first made me wonder if we were dealing with Terrapinicide (Miss Julie was being suspiciously quiet on the other side of the bowl), but I suppose we shall never know.

I wrapped him up in a kitchen towel shroud and sent him on his way.

We’re trying our best with these turtles, we really are; using filtered water in their bowl, giving them turtle food and lettuce but not letting it fester in the water. They’ve got rocks and tiles to clamber onto, we put them outside in the sunshine every now and then, but it’s harder than I thought though, and I don’t hold up much hope for Miss Julie making it now she’s all alone.

Maybe we’ll try again when the weather is warmer- they’re tropical I think, so presumably fair a lot better in the heat and humidity than, say, me. Chinese friends tell us we should be feeding them chopped up shrimp or possibly insects- seems odd to feed that to something so small though.

In the mean time, any tips on Turtle care, or coping with Turtle related grief are welcome.