Urgent Care :: Jerry Immobile in Water

[LuandWib]

Jerry is a little bigger than a silver dollar. We saved him from a neglectful owner. When we got him he was in shallow water tank with no real basking area. His eyes were swollen and cloudy, his shell had white spots and it seemed like maybe fungus. We have arranged the proper environment for him now, but all he does is bask. His shell is turning green again and we put cod liver oil on his eyes so they are looking a lot better too.
This is the new problem: He doesn't eat yet. He just started going into the water again, but he doesn't swim. He just "floats" with all his limbs and his head out of shell. He seems to float towards a back corner. We have a fake lily pad that he seems to like, but we are wondering if he may be blind or if he could be traumatized of water from his former conditions.
Any suggestions as to why he's not swimming or how we can get him to eat?

[steve]

When was the time you think he ate? There are some tips here -- www.redearslider.com/entice_eating.html -- and I would try those ASAP.

If you haven't already, I'd make sure his water is about 80F. A submersible water heater is necessary to maintain constant water temperatures. I'd also keep things as stress-free as possible -- unnecessary interaction, no privacy, etc.

[kimberly183]

How long have you had him? Other animals, and I am sure RES do to, don't really eat when they are ill so all of their energy can go to healing.

Our two didn't eat at first either when we rescued them. After 3 days, we tried some of the "enticing" foods. Rosey red minnows REALLY worked well! And poached egg whites. Sara grabbed them out of my hand. They had never had any fresh veggies before, but shredded carrots worked well, as did some strips of apple. Best of luck with your little one!

[TheComputerGremlin]

Can you be more descriptive? How long have you had the turtle? What's your setup like?

It could take a few days before he'll start eating. You can also try different brands of pellets, some turtles are picky.

As for swimming, when I first put my little guy into an actual tank of water, it took him a good couple of days to figure out the whole swimming thing. Now he's a pro.

[LuandWib]

Thanks for all of your responses!


We've only had him for 2 weeks now.
Before he was in a little carry tank, maybe 10 gallons or less, with only about 3 inches of water and a couple of rocks that he couldn't even get up onto.
Now we have him in a 30 gallon tank, with the water filled about half way or more, and one of the fake floating lily pads. We have a water heater set to go on if the water goes below 78, but we will make sure we increase the temp a bit. It;s so hard to tell what the air temp actually is and i think that needs to be increased too. The thermometer we have sticking to the side of the tank says about 80-85.

One time I gave him cantelope and I think he had it in his mouth when i went to check on him. Maybe we arent giving him enough privacy. Im just so worried.
We give him those Gamm pellets, which just get so soggy they float to the bottom. I even tried soaking them in tuna first. A friend also gave me some shrimp that he gives his turtles and he doesn't eat those smelly things either. The owner before fed him pellets.

When he wasfirst given to me in the bad cinditions he was swimming lopsided and even tried to do a back flip. Ive read that those are symptoms of RI. He also was yawning when I transported him in his dry carry onback to my house.
He hasnt had any symptoms of RI since,so hopefully he';s healing on his own.
Has anyone taken a RES to the vet for RI before? What do they do and give him?

[marisa]

"When we got him..." means? How long have you had him?

What are you trying to feed him? If it's only pellets, it may take him a bit to become interested in them. Try some food that moves like a small earthworm or cut-up pieces of a larger one. Bloodworms are also helpful to get them started eating (they're purchased frozen).

Your hatchling sounds very much like the condition mine was in (almost 6 years ago). All mine wanted to do is bask, and for the first 5 days that's all he did, with me taking him off the basking area to hydrate and feed him. I used a separate shallowish container of water to feed him---he could put all fours on the bottom and still be able to grab the food comfortably. Give him some privacy when he eats so he's not distracted from the food.

[SpotsMama]

I think it would be a very good idea to take him to a vet. It sounds like he's not feeling well. Poor appetite and lethargy are signs either that temperatures are too cold (and if you're sure the water temp is at least 78 degrees then that's not the problem) or that they are ill. (80 degrees is better because heat stimulates a turtle's immune system.)

You didn't specifically say that your turtle is lethargic but I got that impression. A tiny little turtle is normally very shy and skittish. It will run and hide when a person walks up to it. If he just sits there or floats then he's not behaving like a healthy turtle.

Try not to stress him unnecessarily. don't pick him up unless you have to and give him privacy for eating and basking. It might help to put cardboard around the sides of the tank.

Count out a few pellets, soak them in tuna juice and leave them in the tank. Go away for awhile then come back and see if he's eaten any.

Little turtles usually don't recover on their own from RI but sometimes they do. Swimming lopsided, yawning and swollen eyes are very common symptoms of RI. A vet gives antibiotics for RI, usually in the form of injections. If RI is caught early enough the antibiotics are very effective.

It's important that the vet you see is a "herp' vet (one that knows about turtles). Most vets only treat dogs and cats. Look for a vet that advertises that he/she treats herps or "exotics". If the vet offers to give a vitamin A shot, first make sure the vet is positive your turtle really needs vitamin A and then discuss other alternatives to shots with the vet like eye drops with vitamin A, cod liver oil or food supplements. Several turtles have recently had very bad reactions to vitamin A shots and I think it's best that if vitamin A is needed (and often it's not) the safer methods be used instead.

Good luck. We'll be pulling for you.

[grey goose]

An inability to submerge (floating) is not a good sign. It could be a sign of RI or a gastric problem (parasites). Take him to the Vet and let him know of the conditions he was in before you saved him.

[Spiritualjoy]

I just went through RI with my two 8 month old turtles. The vet gave them both Baytril shots every other day for two weeks. They also got a Vitamin A shot and a Vitamin D shot, with no side effects. He had me put Terramycin ointment on their eyes every 8 hours and dry dock them for 5 hours a day with the ointment on their eyes. In a little over a week they were as good as new. They didn't eat the entire time they were sick, which was a little over 2 weeks. I was freaking out about them not eating, but the vet said because they were sick, they werent' moving much so they really weren't burning alot of calories so not to worry. Once they started feeling better - they ate better than they ever ate before! They eat any vegetable, pellet, you name it that I put in front of them now! I have to be really careful not to overfeed them!

It helped to increase their water temp. - they liked it warm around 82. Word of warning - once they have been in the warm water a while, they will shed their skin which is really gross looking but it stops once you get the water back down to 78. Best thing I ever did was take them to a vet. I don't think they would be with me today if I hadn't! Get Jerry to the vet as soon as you can - you will be so happy you did, and so will Jerry!

[LuandWib]

Thanks for all of your adice. We ended up taking Jerry to the vet. The vet gave us vitamin A to give him orally. We had to pinch his mouth open to get it in. This was very scary, I thought we were going to break his shell. I think only 2 drops got in, but he's been alive and kicking for 8 months now. The doc only gave him a week to live!

We will post pictures on the gallery asap. We are very excited about the new habitat we got him and can't wait for you to enjoy the pics of our little fellow (or gal?) too.

Thanks!

Lu and Wibby

[SpotsMama]

It's so nice of you to let us know how he's doing! I always wonder how it turned out with the little sick turtles. I can't wait to see your pictures.

[Arisu]

Is it eating yet?