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My 6" male yellow belly slider is acting strange. When it starts to get dark, he frantically swims backwords, and for the last 3 nights he has been sleeping out of his water on his basking log. It's too cold for him to sleep out of the water. Water temp is around 80 degrees, basking light is at 95 degrees. I clean the tank once a week and clean the filter out once a month. About four weeks ago I did a water change, and when I turned his filter on it just spewed out all the crap it was filtering back into his tank. My fault, I missed the monthly filter clean by a week. I did a big water change and cleaned out the filter. New filter cartridges and charcoal. I put water softener and algae control in his water. He has a uva and uvb lamp. He's eating and is very active. I know I sound like I'm freaking out, but I do not want to lose my turtle!! I googled this, but of course found nothing. Should have known to come here first. I'll send a picture of his tank too. I've removed most of the rock since this picture was taken. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!

When he's swimming backwards, is he biting his claws/hands? What's the air temperature?

He doesn't bite at his feet, but he does rub them against his head. The room temperature is about 77 degrees. I put drops in his eyes every other day to keep him from getting any kind of infection.

What drops are you using? It's probably not necessary and most 'preventive' isn't worth it. Room air temp of 77F is fine, so I wouldn't worry about it being too cold. It is a bit weird to swim backwards without doing anything though, though I don't think it's of concern without the presence of other symptoms.

Okay. Just a nervous turtle mom I guess. I feel a lot better though. He's such a sweet turtle. The eye drops are ZOO MED Repti Turtle eye drops.

Thank you very much!!

Those are good drops, but you don't need to use them that often