Urgent Care :: Darko is lethargic and sunning a LOT

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Post Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:02 am   Darko is lethargic and sunning a LOT

How big is your turtle? About the size of my palm, or an inch smaller than a McD's cheeseburger
How long have you had it? about 8 months

What is the water temperature? 72 degrees, just checked it
Did you use a thermometer? Yes, I leave on floating in the water 24/7
Are you using a water heater? Yes
How much water is in there? about 27 gal
Are you using a water conditioner? No
Are you using any filtration? Yes, 60 gal filter for a 29 gal tank

What is the basking temperature? About 90 degrees, give or take
Is there a basking light? Yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? The floating turtle dock
Is there a UVB light? Yes

What have you been trying to feed it? Turtle pellets
When was the last time your turtle ate? 2 days ago, when I fed him. He had a normal hunger.

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 29 gal
Is the tank near a window? Kind of
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? Yea, a moderate amount

Have you read the Basic Care section? Yes, MANY times
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? Lethargic as hell! Sunning all the time. ALL the time. I come home, he's sunning. I come downstairs an hour later, he's sunning. I come down in another hour he's STILL sunning! No appetite either. Usually the bugger is hungry as hell, trying to eat Donnie's food too, but today I dropped food ON him, and nothing. He sits floating at the top, top legs pulled in when I pick him up. I can pick him up off the dock while he's sunning, which is very unusual.

The only way I can get him to act normal is to pick him up and poke his nose. Then he goes back to the 'put me the fack down or I will bite you!' kind of mentality. Not that I try to stress them but I check their shells every few days and what not and he acts like he's gonna get a prostate exam. Well, most time anyways.

The other turt is fine, but if he does this tomorrow, I will have to separate them, I can't risk having both get sick.

Now there is gravel in the tank, but they are the size of his head!

Haven't seen em poop either, but I don't watch them a whole lot, and there's too much poop for Donnie, who is half of Darko's size.

Now Darko is a girl. I say him because I wish he was a guy, but still, is there a possibility she/he can have a clutch?
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machina
 
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:51 am   

Have you observed any open-mouthed breathing or noises coming from Darko?
2 Chinese Goldenthread turtles ~ Miso&Mafan
1 Chinese Box turtle ~ Chief Lemon
2 Redfoot Tortoises ~ Sheegua & Muugua
1 Toy Poodle ~ Pudding
3 firebellied newts ~ Cassandra, Mr.Poo, and Wiggles.

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Tenodera
 
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:37 am   

For starters, boost the water temp up. 72 is a bit cool, especially if one turtle is displaying symptoms of an illness. I'd put the water at 78 maybe a few degrees higher.
2 RES: Leo (f) and Ezra (m)
1 Russian Tortoise: Godzilla (m)
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megcornell
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:10 pm   

I bumped the water temp up last night as a precaution.

He isn't open mouthed breathing or making noises, he just sits there. Still doesn't have an appetite.

I booked a vet appointment for Friday, hopefully a round of antibiotics will have him back up and trying to bite my finger again in no time.
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machina
 
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:40 pm   

Just separated him :( Has his own tank with a lamp, dock, and enough water to cover the top of his shell. I'll change it daily til the vet. At least that way I can see if he poops.
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machina
 
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Post Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 5:03 pm   

Darko died :( Found him under a hideout I made for him in the new tank. Completely limp, eyes open and swollen :( Just finished burying him.
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machina
 
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Post Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:37 pm   

I'm so sorry to hear that. Sometimes hatchlings are just too frail to fight whatever is ailing them.
2 RES: Leo (f) and Ezra (m)
1 Russian Tortoise: Godzilla (m)
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megcornell
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Post Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:05 pm   

Sorry to hear this. :( He had been healthy for the rest of the 8 months you had him? How is your other turtle? It would be good to clean out the tank and disinfect it (2 oz of bleach to a gallon of water, lots of rinsing and air drying), even though they ultimately had been separated.
"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." -Antoine de Saint Exupery-
marisa
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Post Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:33 pm   

Yea Donnie is fine right now. Zooming around everywhere like a normal hatchling.

I cleaned the entire tank today. Got a new filter (XP2), got rid of the gravel, fed him some krill, and tried today make as non-stressful as possible.
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machina
 
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Post Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:42 pm   

I'm so sorry to hear you lost him.
Tom & Ashley
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(3T Box) Manny & Isabella
(Dog) Ember
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RunninWideOpen
 
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Post Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:17 pm   

Sorry to hear this.
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& fish.
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emma
 
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Post Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:05 pm   

I'm so sorry to hear about Darko!!!! :(
Kristin's Pond! Starring:

RES = "Sheba", 21+ yrs. old
African Clawed Frog = "Prog", 10 yrs old
& "Kristin" as Momma
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industrial_girl_2000
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Post Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:25 am   

How sad! I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I hope Donnie continues to do well. Do you have any idea what happened to Darko?
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