General Care Discussion :: how long do RI last?

[kevinx420]

So I took my turtle to a herp vet and he gave me some antibiotics to clear up the respiratory infection. It has been two weeks and i have given him the meds every day but he is still unable to submerge. The vet said it would take time but he doesn't really seem to be acting any differently than before I took him in. Any ideas how long it might take for a full recovery?

[Boogerbutt02]

Are your water and air temps right?

[kevinx420]

water temp is about 83 and basking area is about 90.

[CountryGirl68]

Your water temp is too high. Lower it to about 75 degrees.

[kevinx420]

I know its kind of high but the vet told me to raise the temp to 80-85 degrees until he started to improve. should i lower the temp anyway?

[megcornell]

You should keep your water temp about 80-82 for a sick turtle. My turtle is recovering from an RI as well. He's still s little uneven as well and he's been on meds since October 2nd. My vet explained that because turtle's have slow metabolism it takes their systems a long time to respond to the meds (hence the long administration period) so it can be completely normal for it to take a month for all symptoms to disappear. She also instructed me to take Leo back to the vet's if he isn't better by the end of his antibiotics (30days) so I'd keep watching him while he's still on meds and then call the vet if you see no improvement.

Is he eating and basking?

and also, 75 is too cool for any hatchling whether they are ill or not. 78 is more ideal for a healthy turtle.

[CountryGirl68]

and also, 75 is too cool for any hatchling whether they are ill or not. 78 is more ideal for a healthy turtle.

Didn't know it was a hatchling - in that case, the water temp at 78degrees normally is okay. My vet told me that the water temp for a sick turtle should be no more than 82 degrees.

[kevinx420]

Thanks for the info. I see him bask quite often but he doesn't eat very much, if anything. I think he has gotten a little better though because he hasn't been gasping for air like he was before I took him in. He doesn't swim lopsidely but he floats if he isn't moving. Also, I am giving him meds orally and it is such a small amount that it is hard to get him to take them. I was wondering if there is a different method that I could try?

[scripta_elegans]

My turtles took a little over a month post antibiotics to fully recover from their RI. They started eating again in about 10 days, and a couple months later, are back to their little piggie selves.

[marisa]

A water temp of 82-83F is OK for a hatchling that has an RI---he needs the added warmth.

Is your turtle eating? If so, can you put some of the medication on some of his pellets? Some people have injected meds into food like a worm (or pieces of one---he'd most likely eat something that wiggled as well). What meds are you giving him?