General Care Discussion :: My turtle can't dive

[Myles]

Hi everyone! i'm new to the forums but i've used this site may times since I got my turtle last October. I've found it really helpful and informative so keep up the good work.

I got Cortana when she( I think it's a she) was just over an inch in length. I hadn't done my homework on res's and the vendor told me they grew to the size of a hockey puck(I'm in Canada btw lol). I had her in a 2.5 gallon without a water heater but I did get a basking light and a filter. It's no suprise she got sick, she wouldn't do anything but stay on her basking platform. Now that I look back I'n not sure if she was ever able to dive. I then found this site and learned that it was probably a respitory infection. I found a herp vet and took her in and was told that because she was so young she had a 50/50 chance of making it.

I'm glad to say that serveral months later and over $500 spent on vet bills she is doing pretty good except for the fact that she still can't dive. She's grown to just under 4 inches in length. The vet told me the last time I saw her that I might just have a "special" turtle for the rest of my life.

So you'll probably want to know about her set up is now so here goes:
What is the water temperature? about 80 degrees
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? 3/4 full
Are you using a water conditioner? yes
Are you using any filtration? fluval 405
What is the basking temperature? Not sure
Is there a basking light? sunglo tightbeam 75 w
Is there a UVB light? Reptiglo 5.0 26 w
What have you been trying to feed it? She eats reptomin and shrimp as a treat
How big is the tank? 75 gallon tank

I've seen her try to dive and she has gone down almost to the bottom only to float right back up on a few occasions. I should also mention that she gets what I call the "crazies" every now and then where she will swim in circles uncontrollably but then she'll swim normal or at least normal for her. I think she does that when she gets spooked. She has a healthy appetite, is active and she does bask normally. Does anyone have suggestions on this? I added goldfish to the tank to motivate her but I think she's just befriended them. I've thought of adding a new turtle in the hopes that she could learn from the other but I've read about larger turtles attacking smaller ones and I don't want that to happen.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to your suggestions. I'll try to add pics later on.

[SpotsMama]

Your vet may be right - she may be a special turtle. Just be sure if she has trouble swimming that it's easy for her to get to resting places so she doesn't get tired. For example, she can rest on plastic plants that reach to the surface of the water. Also be sure it's easy for her to get up on her basking platform.

Spot occasionally has bursts where he thrashes about. I don't know why he does it. it was much more common when he was young but even now he does it sometimes. I used to say he had the "heebie jeebies".

As long as your girl has a healthy appetite, is lively and basks normally, and the vet says she's ok, then all is good. Difficulty submerging is, of course, one of the classic symptoms of RI, but if your girl has been treated and cured and isn't showing any of the other symptoms, then she's good to go.

[camee1991]

Kudos that she is ALIVE! Im glad some people go all the way to take their turts to the vet!

And I think, seeing you have had this "special" turt for a while, she may just be "special". If you had just noticed this, everyone and even me would be thinking respiratory infection...but since she is ok with eating, and can swim, filtration, space, lighting, etc. seem all good and sorry to be so bold but ALIVE...I would bet she was healthy just may not be so strong in her hind legs.

The "crazies" you speak of are normal! lol Most of our turts have those. This specific breed get scared really quick and loves to jump off the docks and bump into the tank walls etc...

I would just keep and eye on her and do what you are doing. Seems like you have done all you can. She will stay this way or get better. Either way at least she gets back to the top!!