General Care Discussion :: new turtle owner

[vincentapa]

hey everyone im a new owner of two RES turtles.
i just had a couple of questiond to ask if anyone could help me out since i dont know really too much about turtles.

i have a 75 gallon tank with a docking area for the turtles and currently using a desk lap for the time being as of tomra im going to purchase the proper lighting. i have african cichlids in the tank, about nine of them with the two baby turtles. when i first put them in the tank they seemed to be very comfortable swimming around but for the last day or two i have been noticing they have been on the docking rock i have. for almost the whole day with their eyes closed. i havent seen them actually go into the water and eat. they did once for the first time when i first got them but everysince i havent seen them eat. now i have been reading on how to tell if they are sick and it doesnt seem to me that they are. i was just wondering if anyone can help me understand more like if they like to bask alot for long hours. i was reading that they sleep in water but i havent seen them do that either. they have their eyes closed while they are basking on the dock. is that normal. could it be that they are just babies still. i have a heater in the tank and the water is at about 76 to 78 rougly and i have to big filters on each side. would it be that i need a water heater for them?aslo so i have the light on all the time or should i keep it on for 12 hours then off during night? im just lookin for the best suggestions to keep my turtles healthy and strong as i would love to see them grow big they are just so amazing. any suggestions or tips would be helpful thanks alot..

vince

[Nettle]

What's the water and basking area temp? They could be cold in the water.

I'm not sure what could be causing their eyes to be closed, though. If you could give a really detailed description of everything in their tank or a picture then we could help more.

I've also heard that cichlids are really aggressive, so they could be contributing somehow.

[octpusgirl8]

Staying on the basking dock with closed eyes, not eating, and general lethargy are classic signs of illness. Since it's not legal to sell hatchling (or under 4") RES, most of the places that do sell them don't really take good care of them, so it's common for them to be sick when you get them. Bump the water temp up some, to around 80. The temp of the basking area should be around 90. The lamp should be on to roughly mimick the day/night cycle, but since they seem to be sick it might be a good idea to get a ceramic heat emitter to keep them warm on the basking dock at night. If you get one, be sure to check the temperature of the basking area carefully, as you don't want to cook the poor little things.

[Bascomb]

Vin-pa -- To add to your 90 to 91 degree basking add your uvb lighting to help with the metabolism of his food. You may want to add some calcium to the diet. b.

[RunninWideOpen]

the light should only be on for 14 hours a day to simulate day/night.

if your water is at 76-78F it shouldn't be a cold water issue. hatchlings generally should have water 78-80, BUT 76-78 isn't freezing for them. you are measuring the water temp with a thermometer in the water? i'm not understanding whether you have a water heater or not though?

no, babies are typically MUCH more reluctant to bask, and will very rarely bask when someone is around. even if the water is cold. it really sounds like they are sick. it is important for them to be treated early, hatchlings are very fragile and often do not make it if they get sick. you should up the water temp to 80-82, and start looking for a herp vet to take them to.

what are you trying to feed them? try to entice them to eat by dipping some pellets in some tuna juice and offering it to them.

The turtles may not be very good companions for your ciclids, as your ciclids will eventually become LUNCH. doesn't matter how big they are compared to the turtles. turtles are known to eat larger fish in pieces.

[VanishingReality]

The turtles may not be very good companions for your ciclids, as your ciclids will eventually become LUNCH. doesn't matter how big they are compared to the turtles. turtles are known to eat larger fish in pieces.

I found that out the hard way, I put in a red rosie minow that was much larger then Crush's head, and he lasted two seconds.

Scared the algae eater so much he has wedged himself behind the filter and refuses to move.

[vincentapa]

thank you to all the replies it has given me some lee way to help my turtles. i purchased the right heat lamp and another dock for them. tonight i will try to get a good detail description of my tank and maybe post some pictures too for some more help and advice. in one of the threads someone said they usually dont bask when your watching them but they have been when i look right over them.. once again thanks everyone for you help and generocity

[vincentapa]

they everyone prior to us talking i have set up a new black heat lamp for the turtles and a uvb light for them to cool down . i have been observing them alot day and night and i notice one of my turtles seems to be fine jumping in the water here and there and the other one too. but im noticing on one of my turtles he seems to be yawning quite often and it doesnt seem like he can open his right eye all the way. im not sure if hes sick or not but how could i get him to get healtier without going to the vet. cuz to be honest i dont realy have tons of money to spend. ? was wondering if anyone could help me or give me any suggestion thanks?

[VanishingReality]

I have had my turtle for three months and I have seen him bask ONCE. I had to walk very softly and walk up from the side. My fiance has never seem him bask.

[octpusgirl8]

All of what you describe, the eye problems and especially the yawning, indicate a respiratory infection. Really, there's not a whole lot you can do to cure it other than take it to the vet.

[littlecakes]

vincentpapa,
i had to take our foster turtle to the vet for upper respiratory infection and we spent less than i thought it would be. we paid the standard for a visit plus $30 for ten days of antibiotics and got free info whenever we needed on the phone when we had questions after the visit. i live in new york city so the standard first visit cost about $90, if you live anywhere else i assume it will be much cheaper.
better to have the little one checked out than get sicker and sicker in front of your eyes....
hanna

[vincentapa]

so hanna i have another turtle and im not sure which is the female and which is the male but which ever it is he looks fine eyes are wide open and he went for a swim today.but i dont really see them eat much how can i experiment to see if their eating habit are fine im feeding them turle pellets and shirmp he went the first time i dropped him in the tank and ate the fish flakes but i know have a black light for them and they always seem to be basking at least everytime iv been able to see them. should i seperate the turtle for the other one could anything happen ? i have a feeling he was sick when i first got him but then again i didnt have the proper things to set up for the turtles cuz of the long weekend in canada as i got them on the saturday.. would you or anyone suggest seperating them to be honest i just spent 130 today for the turtles and and vet will cost im sure alot more then i got it from dont mean it to be mean i love them and everything but i got unlucky.. any suggestiong on what i sould do next maybe wait see if he gets better... see if they move from the last place they were baskin on ...? any help would be great and thanks for the info

Vince

[RunninWideOpen]

hey vince,

there's not much that can be done for RI without antibiotics. it's most likely they were sick when you got them. symptoms don't start showing up right away. it takes awhile.

i'm not sure what you mean, by you have a UVB light for them to cool down? both lights should be on during the day and off at night, and both lights should be over the basking area.

the only thing you can really do is raise the water temp to 80-82 and try to entice them to eat like I said before. but, if he has RI, he won't get better without antibiotics. and if you wait until they start to show advanced symptoms, hatchling very often don't make it even with antibiotics. it has to be caught early.

i'm not trying to sound mean or hopeless....just trying to give you the info you need to make your decision. good luck!