General Care Discussion :: anything wrong with my turtle

[phobull]

Hi All,

I just got myself a new baby red slider the only problem is that i have noticed:

- He seriously sleeps on his log all day and all night
- Doesnt eat
- When i take him to the back yard he starts running really fast
- His shell is a bit soft

I dont know is this normal baby behavior? even if he knows im around he just lies there and sleeps on his log

[Sgt. Pepper]

How long have you had him? If he's new he could be getting used to his environment. If he was eating and active before he might be sick. Does he have any other symptoms like bubbles coming from his nose or breathing through his mouth? If so you need to take him to a vet.

I wouldn't suggest taking a baby turtle out of its tank unnecessarily because they can get cold very fast and that will make them sick. There is also a chance that it will get away from you and get lost, because as you saw they can move very fast.

As far as I know the shells of babies are a little softer than those of an adults so you're probably ok on that. If you take it to a vet they'll be able to tell you if anything is wrong there as well.

You know your turtle better than anyone else so if you think it's sick, take it to the vet. Make sure you go to a vet who knows how to treat turtles. They might try to give the turtle a vitamin A shot but that can make your turtle more sick. If the vet thinks it needs vit. A ask for some other method like cod liver oil or eyedrops.

[phobull]

How long have you had him? If he's new he could be getting used to his environment. If he was eating and active before he might be sick. Does he have any other symptoms like bubbles coming from his nose or breathing through his mouth? If so you need to take him to a vet.

I wouldn't suggest taking a baby turtle out of its tank unnecessarily because they can get cold very fast and that will make them sick. There is also a chance that it will get away from you and get lost, because as you saw they can move very fast.

As far as I know the shells of babies are a little softer than those of an adults so you're probably ok on that. If you take it to a vet they'll be able to tell you if anything is wrong there as well.

You know your turtle better than anyone else so if you think it's sick, take it to the vet. Make sure you go to a vet who knows how to treat turtles. They might try to give the turtle a vitamin A shot but that can make your turtle more sick. If the vet thinks it needs vit. A ask for some other method like cod liver oil or eyedrops.

i got a heater in the water so its not much of a problem but he lies on his log all day which is weird, im not to sure if he was active b4 hand because i only recently purchased him his quite small as big as 25cent coin i think. Just wondering if anyone else had their baby turtles just sit on the log on days.

[TheComputerGremlin]

What is the temps in your water? As a baby, turtles should have 80 degree water. If his log corresponds to his basking area, he may not feel warm enough in the water and he prefers to be warm on the log. I would check your temps. Just because you have a heater doesn't mean it's working correctly.

The soft shell should go away with age. I don't think it's anything to worry about. But obviously since you have a very baby turtle, you need to make sure he doesn't get hurt since his shell isn't fully developed.

Oh, and I was just thinking, is your water too deep or do you have any underwater resting areas? The baby might not think he'll make it back to the surface if he's underwater, so he might stay on the log to do his sleeping. A few people on the board (myself included) have soap dishes turned over attached to our tank walls just below the water surface to help the turtles be able to sleep close to the surface.

[phobull]

What is the temps in your water? As a baby, turtles should have 80 degree water. If his log corresponds to his basking area, he may not feel warm enough in the water and he prefers to be warm on the log. I would check your temps. Just because you have a heater doesn't mean it's working correctly.

The soft shell should go away with age. I don't think it's anything to worry about. But obviously since you have a very baby turtle, you need to make sure he doesn't get hurt since his shell isn't fully developed.

Oh, and I was just thinking, is your water too deep or do you have any underwater resting areas? The baby might not think he'll make it back to the surface if he's underwater, so he might stay on the log to do his sleeping. A few people on the board (myself included) have soap dishes turned over attached to our tank walls just below the water surface to help the turtles be able to sleep close to the surface.

I will take a pic of it tonight the pretty is pretty decent warm wise, its set on 28degrees not to sure if that make sense -_-

The water isnt so deep i put a lot ways he could climb up and there are sections where there is more water then others buts its not deep for sure.

[Chrisbarnett]

I think you meant 28 Celcius. 28F would be frozen water.

And heres and example of a soap dish resting area in my tank.

[steve]

I'd make sure the temps are good and avoid excessive (unnecessary handling). Does he have his own tank?

www.redearslider.com/hatchling_tips.html

[phobull]

I'd make sure the temps are good and avoid excessive (unnecessary handling). Does he have his own tank?

www.redearslider.com/hatchling_tips.html

Yeah he has his own tank, i did have him with another baby short neck turtle but i took that guy out incase he was getting scared.

[steve]

How is he doing now?

[marisa]

What do his eye look like when he opens them (does he?)? If they're shut all the time, do they appear swollen?

Was he behaving the same way when he was in with the other turtle?

[phobull]

What do his eye look like when he opens them (does he?)? If they're shut all the time, do they appear swollen?

Was he behaving the same way when he was in with the other turtle?

No progress his still sleeping on his log, his eyes look fine when he actually opens it but he sitll sleeps i leave him veggies, blood wroms and pellets but he hasn't touched any of it. He wasnt 2 concerned about the other turtle but i took the other one incase he was scared of it. Still no progress besides from half his body is in the water and the other half out then when i check his back on the log sleeping. Getting quite worried -_- if its like this over the weekend,



here he/she is

[Sgt. Pepper]

How long exactly have you had him? A few days? A few weeks?

Just because you have a heater doesn't mean he's not sick. From what I can see in those pictures his eyes look very swollen. I stand by my original suggestion to take him to a vet.

[Dormant]

I agree that the eyes look swollen. I also recommend a vet trip and that you read over the site a few times, too.

[mikee]

P-bull -- To give you a hand you need to give more information. How large is your turtle? How large is your tank? How many gallons are in the tank? What temp. is the water in the tank? What temp. is your basking area? What type of filter do you have? gph? Is there a lot of sun light in the room? Do you have a uvb light in the basking area? How ofter do you clean your tank? What do you feed him? Do you use water conditioner?

[steve]

He needs to start eating...have you tried anything on www.redearslider.com/entice_eating.html