Excessive growing?

[djambic]

Hey, its been about 1 and a half years since I went andbought myself some more turtles since I had to give my 9yearold mudturtle to my aunt when I moved... I miss him.. lol I grew up with that turtle, from hatch to my age of 14 almost y years ago.
Oh well, my question is, I have these new guys(2) for about a year and 7months and they are both (one male & one female) over 3 inches with the female at like 3.2 and the male at about 3 Im just wondering, Im not over feeding, and they bask regularly just why are they so big? Also a friend of mne who purchased turtles after I got my male, had given them to me to look after about 6months ago and his were only 5months old at about 5inches a piece. Now his I had given to the local pet store as they specialize in eotic creatures. But I just dont understand why they are so big so early. Could this be unhealthy for their future?
Ill take pictures later tonight, youll love the male his colors are so bright and his shell is like a detailed painting with bright colors, and his nails are about a quater of an inch if not longer. Definately a rare looking RES.


EDIT-
Heres some crap shots I took after their lights out while they were all (4) mine + my friends in the feeder tank and I was pre-cleaning the planeria outta the big tank.
While they were in the tank and I was taking pictures they ate 15+ rosey reds, and teamed up to attempt to eat and kill the huge 2-3inch goldfish I bought for a whopping 26cents at petsmart.... They all 4 at all those fish that I had just bought 15minutes prior to taking pictures....
These pictures are directly on my pc so please dont hostem off there, and take in mind they are crappy as I took them with limited light, a camcorder and digital zoom turned on. Also theres like 60-70photos. Enjoy:
dja.homeftp.net/Downloads/Images/My%20turtles/Picture%20023.jpg

[Jinx]

Hey there djambic

Turtle growth is a funny topic, honestly. I have met people who swear it is only this reason or this reason, but i believe it is a combo of reasons or possibilities.

1. Genetics, the turtle is just designed genetically to grow either quicker or a touch larger than normal.

2. One study i read suggest that the turtles "family line' geograpghy can also make a difference, RES, for example whose 'family lines" derive mainly from northern based areas tend to be smaller in size. And those from more warmer climates or southern, tend to be larger. Northern species tend to live longer also.

3. Diet. Became an issue when turtles became popular pets, feed incorrectly, either too often or all wrong foods. The incorrect diet (high protein i think) can cause fast growth, not positive, its protein, but i will try to doubtle check that...lol. Underfed etc, were weaker, smaller.

4. How they are housed and basically kept.

Growing to fast is unhealthy. Growing to slowly is unhealthy, and growing while in too small of a space is unhealthy.

I think about an inch or inch in a half is a good yearly rate, till adult size. Shells take time to form and grow ... lol. Not sure what the rule of thumb for shell growth is, but i dont usually agree with the rule of thumbs out there, but there are mostly okay as minimums .... take the 10g per inch rule ... I dont like that, i go by 25-30 gallons per inch of turtle, but for a jam, i suppose 10g an inch is okay. Same with food, i feed till they look full or stop eating. I also may only feed once or twice a week. Live food is always available as is plants.

Heres a photo of my four (the two in the middle have new homes, they were temporaryadoptees and feed mainly bananas, beef hearts and some pellets).

The little guy on the left is Dipstick, abt 4yrs, next to him is Sam and then Ella, both Samand Ella are 14yrs old, and Ben is on the end and he is 20+yrs old.

[djambic]

Well I can see where your coming from with the 10g to 25-30g an inch rule but Im stretched for space , and ive got 2 turtles in a what I belive is a 30 but it could be closer to a 50gallon tank. Since theyve gotten in that tank theyre growing has slowed. I purchased them with a 10gallon and they grew at a steady pace, then I stuck them in a 25 gallon clear plastic bin and now its a 30-50 gallon tank where their growing is at a steady pace, but slower- Once (in about 6 months) I move out of my current position, Im going into the military, and depending on the size of the tank theyll allow in my on base housing Ill get the biggest I can, because they only allow 2 pets, and since they have to be small Im sure I can get a pretty decent tank.

[ultimus_j]

Every turtle grow at a different rate. Even if they're from the same clutch of eggs, given same amount of food, and identical housing environment. However reaching 5" in the first year for a hatchling sounds too fast, IMO. Most turtles grow fastest during their first year, then slow down. Certain species do grow at a faster rate than others but eventually will slow down quite a bit.

[TurtleLover99]

Ur turtles dont seem to big for their age... turtles each grow at their own rate..its all in the genes.. the parents taht the eggs came from prolly grew up at around the same rate.. it isnt anything to worry about..

[touie]

One of my turtles ( Cooter) grew 4" in her first year but only 1" so far this year and I think the other ( map) is going the same way. I got him from a pet shop in September when he was about 1" and he is now 3" !

[Chez]

If you think the turtle is growing too much, it might be caused by the food and or/the amount of it that you're feeding, as Jinx said. Look for signs of obesity, like when they pull in their hind legs, is there a bulge of fat sticking out around the leg? And if they're getting too much protein, there may be signs of "pyramiding," that is, where the scutes on the carapace look sort of like there are layers the go from the base of the scute that get smaller towards the top, sort of resembling a pyramid. cheers
:Chez