General Care Discussion :: Sixth toe???

[annie_]

Of course it's a shame...That' why I told you about the condition that the turtle tanks are at the pet shops..I was really sad when I saw them..But I'm really glad that Bubbles seems to be better! And I believe that within the next week he will be much more better!

[Sammonkie]

Hi Annie, thanks for posting the pics.

Most definitely it looks like that your turtle is having some severe fungal infection. Until you can take it to a vet and get some instruction for the treatment, I would suggest you to
1. keep your turtle warm(around 80F - 85F (30C - 33C);
2. dry dock your turtle by keeping it out of the water except for about an hour everyday for it to eat, drink, etc (turtles must eat in water). Please don't forget to keep it warm even when it is out of water. In case it needs some more water, you can leave it with a saucer filled with water.

Is it eating anyway? if it doesn't, please most definitely do your best to get it to eat, for it needs energy to fight the infection. Baby pellets soaked in tuna water(no brine or oil) may do the trick.
How often do you change the water and do you have a water filter for your baby?

If you can't find any vet or prescription these two days, at least look for ZooMed's Turtle Sulfa Dip (or in Greece it is spelled as sulpha?). If you can't even find this, try to
1.dilute a teaspoon of table salt with half gallon of warm water (to make a solution),
2.dip a cotton bud into the solution and pad the solution all over your turtle,
3.dry dock your turtle for at least 2 hours before it gets into water.
4.Rinse it with warm water before it goes into water.
5.When it is back out of the water, dry it and apply a very thin layer of the solution to it again for two hours.
6.Repeat the routine daily.

I am not sure how long will it take to get there, but if you can't find the sulpha dip, order it online as soon as possible, and I can send you what I have right now -- email me at
sluischool@yahoo.com
with subject "Turtle"
to let me know where I should send it if that is the case.

Good luck with Bubbles.

[SpotsMama]

Maybe you have had luck with the Zoo Med Sulfa Dip but when my turtle had a shell fungus it didn't do anything for him. It advertises as a treatment for bacterial infections and as "control for secondary fungal infections" so I suppose if the turtle's infection is bacterial it might help.

In any case, I think some dry docking will help. Both bacteria and fungus thrive in moisture. A very small amount of sea salt (not table salt) in the aquarium water is also helpful in controlling bacteria.

[annie_]

Sammonkie thank you a lot for your advice.First of all I said that he is lethargic.(in the dictionary I found it hibernation).Which means that he has his eyes all the time closed(from the day I bought him he hasn't open them at all),he is sleeping all the time,he doesn't eat at all,but he is changing positions(but with his eyes closed).He was like this from the day I bought him.

About the water change and the filter.I use an internal filter with carbon and I haven't changed the water yet,because I have Bubbles and the tank only 2 days.

About the solution you told me I didn't quite understoodhow many times a day sould I do it..

If I don't find what you said I'll contact with you.Thank you again...


SpotsMama about the dry docking and the bacteria and fungus.There is no way that the water in my tank had bacteria and fungus because the water is two days old and I used a water conditioner..Except if you said that because Bubbles had them from the previous tank at the pet shop and transfered them to the new tank.Do I need to change the water now?Will it be good for the filtration system?

[TupacTheTurle]

might wanna try putting some cod liver oil on those eyes too, seems to help a bit.

[Sammonkie]

Are you sure that it is hibernating? If the water is warm enough, it shouldn't be -- are you sure that isn't a sign of illness. When Turbo got very sick, all at a sudden he became extremely lethargic and refused to feed. He also had his eyes closed most of the time.

SpotsMama was right about the salt solution -- please use sea salt instead. What I meant above was:
1.pad abundantly the solution all over Bubbles and let it dry dock for two hours, and then rinse it with warm fresh water.
2. Afterward, dry it and apply a very thin layer of the solution and keep it dry until next day. Repeat this (Step 2) if it has to eat meanwhile.

It will be a good sign if the white stuff drys up and falls off.

I think you may also try and GENTLY brush off the white spots on its shell(shell only) with a VERY SOFT toothbrush. Don't forget to wash the brush with hot water when you're done.

Good luck and keep us posted about little Bubbles!

[SpotsMama]

Annie, I completely agree with you about the source of the infection - there's no way that your turtle got it from your tank water. He got it from the place he was in before. I think you're going to take good care of him and keep his tank water clean. At this time, however, he's spread whatever he has to his new habitat, and since you're trying to cure his infection, a little bit of sea salt in the tank water will help. In the future when he's well it will help keep the tank water healthier. And I have read about people treating skin and shell infections with a concentrated salt solution. Just be sure and rinse well after treatment.

And I also don't think he was trying to hibernate. Hibernation (or brumination as it's called for reptiles) is certain animals' natural response to prolonged cold. Their metabolism slows drastically, which enables them to survive winter. They stop eating and become inactive and can remain in this state for months, as long as the temp stays cold. In your turtle's case, he's not cold - temps are plenty sufficient to keep a healthy turtle active. He's just not been feeling very good.

[annie_]

I appreciate very much your help!

Sammonkie ,I understand now the steps I have to follow.But I still have another question.Isn't it a small amount only a teaspoon of salt in half a gallon (almost 2 litres)?

SpotsMama and Sammonkie I'm pretty sure he is in hibernation(brumination ) because he doesn't have his eyes closed most of the time but ALL the time!He doesn't eat at all,anything..But he is still changing positions with his eyes closed..(I also don't use a heater yet)

I also had before some years a RES that every winter used to be in hibernation from about November until March and had the same behaviour as Bubbles has now!Unfortunatelly I had to give her away for some reasons,but she is in good hands now.(I aslo didn't use a heater then).
The reason I'm telling you this is that I know how they behave when they are in hibernation.
Another fact is that all the RES(if not all,the 90% of them) that are sold in Greece are in hibernation because none of the seller at the pet shops use a heater,uva lamps etc..
So Bubbles is in hibernation(brumination)..

SpotsMama as you said he's spread whatever he has to his new habitat.Do I have to change the whole water now?And then add the sea salt?What amount of salt should I put to the tank?(except for the solution..)
And another question,will it affect the filtration system?I have the filter working only 3 days(and only 3 days I have the tank and Bubbles).

Thank you again!

PS:I couldn't find a vet that knows about RES.Today I'll try to find at the pet shops I know ZooMed's Turtle Sulfa Dip. And where I can find sea salt?(I have table water,but as you said is not proper).Do they sell it at super-markets?

[thegrandpoohbah]

annie, sea salt mix can be purchased at any aquarium store that sells saltwater fish or equipment. Regular aquarium salt would work too.

[Dein211]

poor baby that is really unfortunate that he was kept in such contitions but he was lucky that you picked him up.

i LOVE the leggo dock by the way very clever.

[annie_]

thegrandpoohbah and Dein211 thanks for your replies!

Dein211 I'll post tomorrow another photo of the LEGO platform!

[insane]

poor thing..keep us updated on her conditions..

[annie_]

Today I bought a heat lamp for the basking area(he liked it!) and two thermometers,one for the water and one for the basking spot.I also bought sea salt and eye drops and his eyes are looking much much better!
The water temp is about 25C (77F) and the temp at the basking area is about 30-32C (86-90F).
Thanks for the help!I'm really glad that there is a forum like that,with many people who know about RES!

And here is a photo of the LEGO ramp!I made a cave where he can hide,and the half platform of the cave is in the water(because he likes to sleep in the water!)Its his favourite place for the night!

[EmperorTunaFish]

Haha, lego rules. Nice thinking. Glad turtle is doing better too.

[steve]

Poor little guy! Are you doing anything to treat his condition? How is his appetite?