Urgent Care :: help - my turtle is going to die =[

[faithin_felix]

ok so i will put flipper in a tub with little water and a rock and cover the tub with a towel and leave him there for the night

i'll suck out some of the feces from the big tank
and let bubbles and pebbles bask til tommorow

[RunninWideOpen]

I think $100 is a bit high of an estimate, at least for my area. I can get a herp vet visit for $35 and the antibiotics for $15.

The only way you will know is to actually call a vet in your area.

I agree that all 3, even Flipper need to see the vet. Although, the vet may only need to see one, and will give you antibiotics for all 3. Since Pebbles has stopped eating that means he's getting close to not making it. I got my 2 youngin's antibiotics and they made a quick and full recovery.

Good luck! I'm sorry you've got to deal with all this. Very sorry to hear of your brother's irresponsibilities as well.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

If I was you i'd take that turtle off of his hand's! That's a realy crummy thing to say. It seem's like your more caring about the animal than he is.

Note: that having more than one turtle, especially 3 is realy, realy hard. I mean..you're looking into a 340 gallon tank when they are adult's! And imagine if they dont get along and you have to seperate them!? That's 3 120 gallon aquarium's!

If you cannot get medical attention for your turtle's I highly suggest that you give them up to a rescure org. It's the right thing to do, I mean..how would you like to die a slow death? It's not fair.

I'd bet my left arm that all of them already caught the RI or whatever pebble's had. But miracle's happen, and maybe they didnt catch it. But, keep in mind that PEBBLE'S WILL DIE IF SHE DOES NOT SEE A VET, RI DOES NOT GO AWAY BY ITSELF. ONLY A VET CAN TREAT HER. SHE WILL DIE IF NOT TREATED.

For now follow everyone's advice and phone as much vet's as you can no matter what your brother say's. And if all else fail's..give them away to a rescue org.

[faithin_felix]

will die?! no way..i won't let that happen

flippers is in another tub now but the water seems cold
flippers hiding under a rock

calling the vet in 12 hours =[

i'm going to add some hot water in flippers tub tomorrow (not from tap, boiled and cooled down)

more caring than my brother because it's in my tank with all my accessories
he just looks at it..anyways that's not important

what's important is they are healthy


To RunninWideOpen

how long did it take the anti-biotics to heal your turtles? do they react fast? how do i know when the anti-biotics worked?

I have many many many questions i want to ask now, but i'll save it for the vet
I hope i can find a vet for TURTLES, most vets are for cats and dogs

[RunninWideOpen]

hey felix-

the turtles started responding to the meds after about 3 days, maybe 4 days. It took them about 3 weeks to make a full recovery. As long as you get antibiotics for all of them (which i would highly suggest), I don't think you'll need to seperate them anymore. Just keep em seperated till you get the antibiotics.

I'm so glad to hear that you're taking care of these turts. They are such rewarding creatures to take care of and they live a whole lot longer than any cat or dog. Once you nurse them back to health you'll probably notice an even closer bond and caring for them. I did

[DavidY]

Make sure to use a thermometer to check the water temp in Flippers tub. Sometimes even 80 degrees can feel cool to us humans. Pumpkinsherbert had to do the same thing for her baby turtle when he got RI. I think she used a desk lamp to keep the water warm (and for basking). I'll try to find that thread for you.

[faithin_felix]

5.5 hours til i can call the vet because 2 hours til exam
i just poured boiled water in flippers tub, but i did not change the water because it's clean

edit//

when i call my vet, what exactly should i say?

[DavidY]

Be careful not to burn him. Also changing the temperature too quickly can shock the turtle so do it gradually.

Here's a link to pumpkin's case and what she tried to get the temperature up...http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8393&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

[RunninWideOpen]

lol.....it's not really a humerous matter, but when you add those bug eyes it's hard not to laugh.

say that you have 3 turtles and you believe one of them has RI and it is spreading to the other two. I would also ask if you just bring in Pebbles if they will give you antibiotics for all 3. That will save stress from the other 2 and also maybe save you some money.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Faithinfelix, good job bro! I'm glad your taking them to a vet, it's the right thing to do and I'm proud of you. But yes, make sure not to burn him, and yes it's true, like david said, temperature change's that are too quick can hurt your turtle, especially boiling water. Use a thermometer since we human's can tell temperature just by "feeling the water" honestly 82 degree's doesnt feel that warm, but it is, and usually when water feel's warm it's in the 90's!

Thermometer's are cheap, get one and let the temperature stay at around 82 degree's.

[faithin_felix]

FLIPPERS ESCAPE FROM THE TUB!!! I CANT CALL VET TIL IFIND HIM!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he is lost!!!!!

[SpotsMama]

Stay cool! He's got to be in the house. He can't have gotten out of the house.

Maybe this will help:

http://www.redearslider.com/lost_turtle.html

[RunninWideOpen]

I've noticed that when mine are out and something freaks them out, I usually find them in the tightest, darkest areas where they barely even fit.

Get the house as quiet as possible and listen for scratching noises.

Don't panick!! You'll find him! Be sure to warn anyone in your household that there's a turtle on the loose and to watch their feet.

[faithin_felix]

i warned everyone, i turned the filter off in the meantime, and i don't hear anything
i'm going to look harder!!
why did flippers leave?!!!!!!!!!
now pebbles and bubbles have to wait

[RunninWideOpen]

I would still call the vet for Pebbles and Bubbles and get them in. You can ask for a third set of antibiotics for Flippers.

Flippers probably took off because he was uncomfortable and didn't know where he was. New environments tend to stress turtles out. Sounds like the water level was a bit too high, but too late to worry about that.

Be patient. You could try putting some of his favorite food around and see if he comes to get it. The house must be quiet though, if he senses anyone's there he'll keep hiding.

He may stay wherever he's hiding for a few hours before he gets up the courage to venture.

I lost Squirt once.....kinda hard to lose a 6" turtle in a tiny living room but I did. I know the anxiety you're feelin tryin to find him. Just stay calm, look the most unlikely places....he will turn up.