General Care Discussion :: Intro, and confused

[turtlemama1]

Hi, been a turtle owner for 15 years now? about 6 for a red ear slider. Today I brought my slider to the vet. She is a full grown adult, 12" across. Looks like the male has been biting her neck. I read now that males and females cannot be together, ok. But the one thing that bothers me is what the vet said. She is an herb vet. She tells me that sliders needs some water but half the tank should be land. (she currently has a floating dock, which she does use alot). I have to soak her 15 min a day and inject her once a day, Ok, still no problem. The only problem I have is that the vet wants me to keep her in a dry tank and the only soaking she does is when I put her in that solution (nolvasan) and occasional dipping to hydrate, otherwise she has to keep her neck dry. How do you keep a water turtle out of water? I have a cat litter pan in a dry tank, just looks cruel to me. oh, spent $237 dollars so I really cannot do a second professional opinion.

[rsour24]

but a towel or something down, just try to make her comfortable until this is over with

[jozzep]

I believe i already answered this on another forum.....

[marisa]

RES need a place to bask, but they're aquatic and really should have about 80% water (I know some people say less).

I've treated bite wounds, and, depending on the wound and how fresh and deep it was, I've dry docked as well, at least until the wound showed signs of healing. The wound was cleaned daily with chlorohexidine/Nolvasan, allowed to dry, and a bit of Neosporin was applied with a q-tip.

During the day, the turtle could burrow under a cloth/towel I placed in the dry tank/container or could "bask" under a light that was placed over one side of the tank. I provided two approximately 30-minute periods to get hydrated, in the morning and evening, in clean water (I usually fed in the morning). I didn't keep a pan of water in the dry tank, but rather put the turtle in a container with water that would at least cover the shell. They can get restless in a dry tank, so giving them a place to hide (a towel) or providing a light to bask under seemed to calm them.

What is your turtle being injected with, Baytril? How badly was the neck bitten?

[turtlemama1]

Bite looks real gross, I must say. You can see the muscles, fresh "meat". I was planning on doing what you said. While I am getting ready for work in the morning, put her in the water to soak. When I come home from work, put her in the water to soak, probably with that solution. And probably outside too, when there is sun so she gets natural light. I have the baby pool set up so its half shade, half sun, and put the soaking dish out there. And yes, I have to inject her with Baytril.

[marisa]

Once the wound starts looking better, I'd put some Neosporin on it after cleaning with a q-tip. It will keep the wound moist, allowing it to heal better. If your vet gives you something else, use that.

I don't think you have to soak your RES in the Nolvasan (unless this is what your vet says to do). I'd just clean the area with it. If you are supposed to soak her in it, however, I would not put any in the water that you're hydrating and feeding her in.