General Care Discussion :: Gil Power???

[kaimarion]

Well Kia keeps opening and shuting his mouth (alot) when he is under water , he isnt swimming lopsided or Gasping for air, is this normal???

Also 1 of my Guppies seems to be quite lathargic and is keeping to areas like thebasking dock ramp and the bottom of tank.

[ellman605]

Might be yawning, turtles yawn every now and then. I watch mine do it when I they're obviously bored.

If it's frequent, it could possibly be the beginning of RI, but it might not. A vet check is always a good thing if you want.

[kaimarion]

It is frequent....I'll take him to get a check up soon but I need to find out prices since I'am out of money at the moment.

Can some more people drop in thoughts of what this could be???

Thanx for the help ellman .

[Safdar]

Anthying from 50- over 100 bucks
Considering what tesst you get done, and how much they charge

Call them up and ask
Im sure theyll be able to give you an estimate

[megcornell]

If the minnow looks ill, I'd remove it. No need to risk your turtle getting ill over a $.10 guppy.

[kaimarion]

I'm removing it just now and they cost $3 over here not that that matters when its a risk to Kai just thought I'd thow that in.

Anyway it doesnt look Ill it just doesnt move about much (I dont know what an ill guppie looks like).

[Steve C]

My vet visit yesterday cost 110 the vet fee was 45 for the office visit. The rest was the cost of the meds, baytril and silvadine.

[untsmurf]

Did they say he had an RI?

[industrial_girl_2000]

Opening mouth UNDER the water is ok. Sometimes they just need a drink.

[kaimarion]

The opening the mouth under water IS frequent and I need to come up with the money to take him to the vet still.

[scripta_elegans]

Kaimarion-If the opening and closing of his mouth is exclusively under water, then it's nothing to worry about. My turtles do that frequently, and I think that they are tasting the water. They can taste their way towards food, or a mate, or away from prercieved danger. There was a study done on this at a well known zoo, but I can't remember where I read it. I was also concerned because I witnessed this phenomenon daily, and it really is nothing to worry about. If they are open mouth breathing above the water frequently, that's another story.

[kaimarion]

Thanxfor the help I was starting to get a little bit worried .

Am still taking him for a check up though to make sure he hasnt got shell problems and what not.

Just to add his shell is a little flexible at the plastron and top of carapace , he gets repto-min pellets with repto-cal on them twice a week is there anything else I can do?

[Boston_Zhao]

my turtle does the same, i can see her throat throbbing all the time. but she is absolutely healthy and active. somebody said here that turtles can absorb oxygen under water by pumping water in and out their mouth. their mouth membrane can absorb oxygen........ she has been like this sine she was less than an inch, now she is 4.5 inches......