Urgent Care :: Cousin's turtle not moving hind legs

[RESlove]

My cousin's turtle AJ is 6cm and we just got him from the pet store. He is not moving his hind legs too much (like when he swims or climbs) and doesn't move his tail at all. They seem to be mildly paralyzed.
Is this a bad sign or is it normal for turtles this young to be a little weak?
My cousins are worried so please let me know guys! Thanks!

[steve]

It's not normal for them not to use it... either they are injured or malformed. Are they sensitive to touch? Has he been eating, pooping and healthy otherwise?

[RESlove]

His legs are sensitive to touch and he does move them a bit but he doesn't move his tail at all. He seems to be dragging his legs a lot. I agree with you -- he may be injured/malformed. But he's just a baby so he will probably learn to use his hands more right? We JUST got him so he hasn't eaten yet but he looks healthy otherwise, he swims around pretty fast and he's able to climb rocks and slopes. Sometimes he swims frantically but he stops in a few seconds.

[steve]

He can adapt, but I would make sure he/she has full use of the cloaca.

[Listen97]

From your picture it appears his leg it turned backwards. Is it always in this position. Can he lay both hind legs flat on the ground. I'm going more with the malformed. Personally if you just bought it from a pet store they should have never sold you that turtle. They should have known that isn't normal. Most baby turtles know how to swim and walk very quickly, just look at sea turtles as soon as they hatch they make a mad dash for the ocean to avoid predators. I would take the turtle back, if it is malformed it will have a difficult life.

[elishawang]

mine are like that too........... except, like NOT SENSITIVE! NOT EVEN A BIT! SOOOOOOOOOOOO SADDDDDDDDDD