General Care Discussion :: turtle panic?

[scripta_elegans]

Well at least two of three tutles are on the mend from their recent bout of RI. The third seems better, but his eyes are still closed, and he keeps having these panic attacks. He wakes up, then starts scrabbling frantically at the wall of the tank which the basking platform is against. Then he swims around at the surface of the water at top speed, running over plants and turtles alike, until he wears himself out and goes back to basking. He also isn't eating, and is extremely paranoid. Has anyone seen this before? I think he may still not be able to submerge from the RI, and he also can't see, because his eyes are still closed, so I would feel panicky too if I were him, but am I anthropromorphizing the turtle? Is this actually a "normal" behavior?

[amazingcc]

I don't know about "normal", but if his eyes are still closed, he would be very panicky if he can't see where he's going. Is there any way you could seperate him from the other two? If he still isn't eating or doesn't open his eyes in a couple of days, I would call the vet for advice.

[cprcheetah]

I would think that it is panicky from not being about to see. I know it would freak me out if I was used to being able to see and then suddenly couldn't.

[scripta_elegans]

I did try putting him in the 20 gallon alone with his own basking light and platform, but he was even more freaked out in the smaller tank. i guess if he is feeling exposed and vulnerable, smaller space is not a good thing. He is calm now, but I have tried feeding him pellets softened with tuna juice, brine shrimp, rosie, and tuna as a last resort withoout luck. He did eat Friday, so I am not panicking quite yet. The vet said that they would take awhile to be completely back to normal, and I would certainly take "spaz" the turtle over "not moving at all" the turtle. think he is having trouble submerging, probably due to the RI, which might also explain his sprint across the water. Thanks for your input!

[missibsu]

I know that you are already treating the RI, and I don't think that you want to over treat, but I wondered about treating the eyes separately? I figure the swollen eyes are part of the side effects of the RI, but does the treatment for RI also clear that up? Just some random thoughts of mine.

[amazingcc]

That's a good question - he might need a little extra TLC/meds/help!

[scripta_elegans]

I have been using the zoomed drops on all three. Now the other two are open eyed when they are awake, but sleepy is not. His panic has subsided after being in the big tank again for a couple of days, but his eyes are still closed. I did not use the drops yesterday or today, but instead applied cod liver oil to sleepy's eyelids. He was scrabbling before this, and after I got one side of his face, he stretched out his little neck and stopped struggling. So I got the other side of his face and his neck for good measure. (His skin looks awful, dry and needs to shed, so I bet the oil felt really nice.) Then I put him on the basking platform under the ceramic heater I leave on at night. Instead of jumping off and swimming madly around the tank he laid down his head and stretched out his feet a little. I think I will keep using the oil! The drops weren't really working on sleepy anyway, so it's time to try the other method! I am happy to be giving a med that doesn't A) hurt or B) really annoy him.

[marisa]

If you try the cod liver oil for a reasonable length of time and it doesn't seem to be helping, I'd stop using it and try something else (like consulting with a herp vet).