Urgent Care :: is my turtle sick??

[bubblestheturtle]

I recently purchased two hatchling female RES. Both were quite active upon arrival, however, one seems to be more lethargic lately. (It recently had problem with eating rocks, but I nipped that habit in the bud by removing all of the gravel from the tank.) The turtle basks on the floating dock for very long periods of time with its eyes shut. It eyes appear to be larger than normal, so I bought zoo med eye drops and applied two drops to each eye. When I went back to check on the turtle, I put it in the water to see how it swam. It swam normally but just slower. Then it climbed back onto the dock and closed its eyes, and kept opening its mouth. The water heater is set to 80 degrees and the water is very clean. I feed it reptomin once daily. It has a heat lamp, uva/uvb lamp and filter and the water seems to be very clean. I think that this “illness” may be due to its extended time in a small container filled with an inch of water that became cold in between water changes to the tank.



My mom is reluctant to send the turtle to a vet. What do you think the problem is? Can I fix the problem on my own? Should I continue to use the zoo med eye drops? If so, how often? Is there even a problem?

also, i raised the temp to 82 because i hear that that help a turtle fight a RI infection. i really hope its not that tho. also, a web site said to keep the heat lamp on so the turtle can recover faster. dose this mean keep it on all night? i turn it off every night so as not to disrupt the sleep cycle and the water heater keeps them warm at night. should i leave the lamp on while this problem persists?

[SpotsMama]

A couple of things come to mind. First, have you seen your RES poop? If she had been eating rocks, it's possible she's impacted. Even if she's stopped eating the rocks, if there are some larger ones still in her system they could be blocking her. An x-ray would show if this were the case.

Second, the behavior you describe does sound like an ill turtle. Some of the symptoms - lethargy, swollen eyes, and yawning are among the classic signs of RI. I'm surprised you were able to walk up to your hatchling, pick her up, and put her in the water. A normal hatchling would be very skittish and before you even got to the tank she would have flown off it in a big panic.

It sounds like you're doing everything right. You've got the water temperature raised, you're keeping the water clean and you're keeping the tank dark at night so she can rest. You don't really need to keep the heat lamp on at night if the air and water temperature are warm enough. Why don't you cover the tank with a towel or blanket at night to help hold the heat in.

The little turtles are rather delicate. It's pretty common to find that they were kept in poor conditions before they were purchased, then by the time you get them home they're already ill but the symptoms don't show up until later.

It's ok to continue with the eye drops as per the instructions on the package. They won't hurt. However, those eye drops are really only helpful for relatively minor eye irritation. If your turtle has something more serious, like RI, then the eye drops really won't help.

The fact of the matter is that if your turtle has RI the very best chance she has is to see a vet as soon as possible so she can get started on a round of antibiotics. If you catch it early enough a lot of turtles will get well if they are treated aggressively. If it goes on too long, though, they often don't survive.

The other thing is you really need to separate the one you've worried about from the other one, in case the sick one has something contageous.

Good luck. We're pulling for you. Please let us know how it's going.

[bubblestheturtle]

ok. i really do want to take it to the vet, but my mom is not for that at all. in total, i bought the two turtles for about $12 (most of that was shpping). she thinks taking the turtles to the vet would be like taking goldfish to the vet. i protested but she thinks its rediculous. i would take them myself, but im not sure i can afford the bill. how much does a check up cost? what about treating RI for a tiny turtle? will it cost more if i bring both or should i just take the infected turtle?

i havnt seen the turtle poop for awhile. what can i do to encourage this?

i coverd the tank with a blanket last night. when i woke up the tank's sides were foggy. is this excess humidity ok for them?

i cant really separate the turtles, i dont have another tank. i could put one in a fish bowl (its very small)with a regular house lamp over it but to UVA/UVB lamp and probably no filter (i do have a small one for fish i might be able to use. should i even use this setup and should i put the healthier turtle in or the sick one?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I would take both, chances are that the other turtle caught the RI too. The only way you're turtle is going to survive is with a vet visit, it shouldnt be TOO much. The antibiotics shouldnt cost more than 20$ and the initial visit for both can vary. Some vets charge 30$(for each) and others go all the way up to 60$(for each). You cannot cure RI on you're own.

Also, keep in mind that ALOT of vets will work out a payment plan. Explain you're situation, tell them whats going on. Ask for help..

Trust me, im tight on money too and im not old enough to make certain decisions. But if i can get around, so can you.

Good luck, im pulling for you.

[bubblestheturtle]

shemp seems more active today, he is swimming more. however, he still dosent shoot off the rock when i come in the room like bubbles is so great at doing. as for the vet thing, its not so much that my mom dosent want me to take them..i can do what i want dispite what she says (besides, shes out of town, its just me here). its juat a money problem. plus, i need to make the turtle hold out to at least tomorrow because my boyfriend is out of town (also) and i want him to be there with me. my poor turtles! hopefully they will be happier after i feed them today.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

If its money that is the problem, then i already told you. The vet will probably work out a payment plan with you, just call a few vets around the area and explain to them what is going on.

You're turtle is going to die. The fact that it was gasping for air and is not being skittish around you, scares me. You cannot cure RI on you're own..he will die a slow and painful death if not taken to a vet.

[bubblestheturtle]

hes not gasping for air anymore..so thats a good sign. im doing everything i can right now. i cant take them untill tomorrow or thursday tho.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Just because he isnt gasping for air now, does not mean that he is getting better.

Its fine, if tomorrow or thursday is the only days you can take them. Then OK, as long as you get them treated then its allright.