Tortoise or Turtle

[DavidofMersea]

To day I was walking alongside the canal at Heybridge.

There was a small log about 5 or 6 feet from the shore, and sitting on the log is what I first thought was a Tortoise about 10 inches to a foot long. However, I have never heard of Tortoise in or near the water. I then wondered if it was a turtle, but I have never heard of turtles in these parts on the UK.

I thought that turtles had flippers at the end of their legs, and this on had claws. However, it also had stripes on its neck and I have never seen a Tortoise with stripes on its neck.

There was a photograph in the local papers a couple months ago, of what someone claimed to be a turtle in the Blackwater. I thought it was a hoax as you could see two or three feet down, and that is not like the Blackwater

 

[Hydrozoan]

Yes, I believe you posted on the Blackwater report at the time, and my conclusion was that it was indeed a turtle. There have been lots of aquarium escapees, I imagine.

 

[DavidofMersea]

Now I have looked a Google, which is what I should have done in the first place. Google shows that not all Turtles have flippers, some have claws as this one did. Also Google shows that some Turtles have stripy necks, as this one did .... So it was a Turtle, and I did not know we had them around the east coast .... We live and learn

 

[peter.m]

Sounds like a released terapin that has become to big for its aquarium. I saw one a few years ago way up river at sandford mill.

 

[SailingVet]

A lot of these are red eared terrapins. There was a big spate of dumped terrapins that outgrew tanks after the initial teenage mutant turtle craze made them a too popular kids "pet". They don't breed here as its too cold and hibernated in mud over winter. They can live for over 20 years.

 

[FulmarJeddo]

A lot of these are red eared terrapins. There was a big spate of dumped terrapins that outgrew tanks after the initial teenage mutant turtle craze made them a too popular kids "pet". They don't breed here as its too cold and hibernated in mud over winter. They can live for over 20 years.

Are you sure they don't breed here? I know of at least two ponds in SE London that have so many Terrapins that they must be breeding or dumped in huge quantities.

 

[Hydrozoan]

Are you sure they don't breed here? I know of at least two ponds in SE London that have so many Terrapins that they must be breeding or dumped in huge quantities.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news...-turtles-could-be-breeding-in-britains-canals

 

[FulmarJeddo]

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news...-turtles-could-be-breeding-in-britains-canals

I wonder if the shallower still water of a pond gets warmer than the canals that are normally river fed, and is giving them the conditions to breed.

 

[Hydrozoan]

I wonder if the shallower still water of a pond gets warmer than the canals that are normally river fed, and is giving them the conditions to breed.

I'm not a biologist but it seems plausible to me - and I seem to recall that in my younger days Rainbow Trout were not believed to have wild breeding populations in Britain, but it has been known for some time now that they do - and in a number of locations.

 

[chinita]

Are you sure they don't breed here? I know of at least two ponds in SE London that have so many Terrapins that they must be breeding or dumped in huge quantities.

They must have been going to the newsagents and buying 'Playturtle' or 'Turtles Only' off the top shelf.; or watching 'Deep Terrapin' starring Mary Millingturtle.