Urgent Care :: New pet red ear slider is sick

[reptile dude007]

How big is your turtle? About a inch & 1/2
How long have you had it? 3 hours

What is the water temperature? About 70 but I am raising it to 75.
Did you use a thermometer? Yes
Are you using a water heater? No a heat pad
How much water is in there? About a inch. He seems like he cant swim
Are you using a water conditioner? Yes repti safe.
Are you using any filtration? No not yet.

What is the basking temperature? There is none he is in a sterlite 6 quart tub in isolation.
Is there a basking light? No
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? Large pebbles
Is there a UVB light? No not yet

What have you been trying to feed it? No
When was the last time your turtle ate? I don't know

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? A sterlite 6 quart tub for now. I have a 40 gallon tank for it all I need is a heater.
Is the tank near a window? Yes but it is always closed
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? Kinda.

Have you read the Basic Care section? Yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? No not yet

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? He will not open his eyes but he does react to touch. Also his shell is soft ish.

[Take-One]

All hatchling RES have a softer shell. Did his old home have too bright of lighting?

[reptile dude007]

All hatchling RES have a softer shell. Did his old home have too bright of lighting?

It had no lighting or heating. I am uploading a video of him right now. His old tank was like one of those XS kritter keepers.

[reptile dude007]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa5so3BgcMQ
A video of him.

[marisa]

He needs that water heater, and it would be good if you upped the water temp to more like 80-82F to help him fight any infection.

The eyes are constantly closed? It would be the start of a respiratory infection, an eye infection (a little unlikely if both are shut), a vit A deficiency or a combination of the three. Warmth would help him fight any infection. On the chance that he's got a vitamin A deficiency, get some plain cod liver oil and apply some to the eyelids once or twice a day for several days. You should see some improvement if a Vit A deficiency is involved.

When you say the shell is soft, exactly how soft is it?

You might do a little reading for threads on turtles that have similar issues to yours.

[TheComputerGremlin]

You need more water and a good water heater. Even if he seems like he can't swim, if he can't be fully submerged in the warm water, he'll basically freeze to death from the room temps. Give him about 4-6 inches of water and buy a cheap suction cup soap dish from Walmart. Stick it about an inch and a half to two inches below the surface and he can then rest on there while remaining in the water.

He looks awfully sluggish. I hope you can get him better. There is lots of info on this site, just look for anything that will help.

[reptile dude007]

He needs that water heater, and it would be good if you upped the water temp to more like 80-82F to help him fight any infection.

The eyes are constantly closed? It would be the start of a respiratory infection, an eye infection (a little unlikely if both are shut), a vit A deficiency or a combination of the three. Warmth would help him fight any infection. On the chance that he's got a vitamin A deficiency, get some plain cod liver oil and apply some to the eyelids once or twice a day for several days. You should see some improvement if a Vit A deficiency is involved.

When you say the shell is soft, exactly how soft is it?

You might do a little reading for threads on turtles that have similar issues to yours.

Ok my dad and I are about to go down to pet co to get a filter, a heater, and a UVA UVB bulb. Yes they are. Ok I just asked my mom to get some Plane cod liver oil. Just a little bit harder than a marsh mellow. Ok I will. Could this be caused by MBD?

You need more water and a good water heater. Even if he seems like he can't swim, if he can't be fully submerged in the warm water, he'll basically freeze to death from the room temps. Give him about 4-6 inches of water and buy a cheap suction cup soap dish from Walmart. Stick it about an inch and a half to two inches below the surface and he can then rest on there while remaining in the water.

He looks awfully sluggish. I hope you can get him better. There is lots of info on this site, just look for anything that will help.

Ok. There isn't a wallmart by my house. but I do have but loads of large gravel that he could not get into his mouth or would a brick work? Thank you.

[reptile dude007]

He is acting much better!!! I got him those turtle eye drops and dropped two drops into each eye. And now he is starting to open them. Plus he is in a 40 gallon tank now so yeah.

[reptile dude007]

R.I.P. Murtle the Turtle.

[corey7144]

HE died?!?!?

[Take-One]

SAY WHAT?? I mean he didn't look good to began with but he died!

It was probaly a infection that got to him.

[Nettle]

Oh no! I'm so sorry!

[reptile dude007]

HE died?!?!?

Yes he did.

SAY WHAT?? I mean he didn't look good to began with but he died!

It was probaly a infection that got to him.

Would a infection cause the fuzz on his back legs when I found him?

Thanks!!!

[joelson101]

I had the same problem with a separate fish tank with a couple fish dying with white fuzz on them.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Fuzz is usually mold, which living organisms generally do not become infected with. If he had been dead for a little while before you found him, it is likely mold post-mortem.