Urgent Care :: Turtle is Pale, Not Eating

[hazelcreevy]

Should I bring my slider to a vet? We got him/her about four weeks ago. Our other turtle has a vivid green shell, and the yellow parts are bright. This turtle is pale all over (not spots) and his/her legs look very pale too. They both swim away and hide when I come near the enclosure, so I don't know if only one is eating all the food. Today, the brighter colored turtle ate in front of me, and the pale one didn't. Now I am worried he never eats. He has looked like this since I got him, but I am getting increasingly concerned.

How big is your turtle? 2"
How long have you had it? about 4 weeks

What is the water temperature? 78-80
Did you use a thermometer? Yes
Are you using a water heater? Yes
How much water is in there? Not sure, It is a very large tupperware enclosure.
Are you using a water conditioner? Yes
Are you using any filtration? Yes

What is the basking temperature?
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? A large rock
Is there a UVB light? yes

What have you been trying to feed it? pellets
When was the last time your turtle ate? not sure (see above)

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? large rubbermade - not sure exactly
Is the tank near a window? no
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? no

Have you read the Basic Care section? yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? Seems lethargic

[crackerlady2007]

Some turtles are naturally lighter/darker in color. Maybe you could post pictures so we could see if anything looks wrong. Lots of small turtles like to run and hide when someone comes near. Do post pictures so we can take a look.

[steve]

Are they kept together? Are they both the same size?

[hazelcreevy]

They are kept together and are the same size. I did see the paler one eating after I posted my first message. But his/her color worries me. I will post a picture if I can get a good one.

[marisa]

To make sure they're getting equal amounts of food, it would be good to feed them separately---either take one out of the tank while the other is feeding or use a separate feeding container to feed them one at a time (it will keep the tank water cleaner). If you do use a separate feeding container of water, it may take some getting used to. The one that's less shy would be a better bet to try it with.