Urgent Care :: Help we can't figure out what is wrong!

[sda3193]

We have two turtles, one small red eared slider, one medium sized yellow belly slider. We just got them a new night bulb for their heat lamp and for some reason our small turtle will jump off the basking rock and sink to the bottom and sit there motionless for like 5-7 minutes, then after that he swims to the top and breath then swim around for a few minutes then he goes back down to the bottom and just sits again. He has been eating fine and just started doing this about an hour ago. Our medium sized turtle is completely fine which is what kind of worries me more. Please Help!

[dumbork14]

hello! welcome to the forum. some turtles are just skittish for a while. it may take time for them to warm up to you. however, be cautious for other irregular behaviour -- swimming in circles, gasping for breath, no appetite. what's your water temp?

[steve]

What kind of bulb is it? Is it something that is needed? Leave it off and see if they go back to normal the next day.

[sda3193]

it's their heat lamp so they do need it.

[dumbork14]

how are they?turtles need a UVB light and a heat lamp, unless you are able to bring them out under the sun everyday...

[steve]

They don't need a heat lamp at night, though I think some people have used infrared heat lamps. If this is to help maintain water temps, you really need a submersible water heater to do that.