General Care Discussion :: Turtle Barf?

[Goddessofwicked]

So we just brought home a very large RES last night. She settled in ok and ate well this morning. Well my husband came home tonight and went to check on her... when he came back he said she was on her basking rock, she hit the water when she saw him and just went "bllllleeeecccchhhhh" and this air bubble came up.... and it was turtle barf. There was stuff in it too. Like, kind of a plastic-mesh like material I think.

When we got her, her tank was really gross and I am wondering if something maybe fell in there while with her other owners...? Maybe she got curious and ate it?


I am COMPLETELY new to RES care and keeping so I'm a little freaked out. Any ideas?

[megcornell]

Welcome to the site!
I would keep a close eye on her. It's good that she's eating so soon... it may have just been stress that caused the vomit or it could be something she ingested. Watch to make sure that she's pooping. If the vomiting continues I'd take her to a vet.

What is your set up like? Post pictures of your new turtle when you can
Also, take a look around the site and forum for tips and guides on turtle habitats and diet.

[BullDog]

I know turtles can throw up if they eat too much or too fast (just like us). But it seems a little strange for there to be an air bubble with it.
If there was something like plastic mesh, it sounds like she may have been chewing on something in her old tank. Make sure you scoop it out (if you haven't already) so she doesn't eat it again. Also, make sure she's pooping normally too. A lack of poop can indicate that she has an impaction. But remember that they are also prone to eating their own poop, so keep an eye out for anything. They usually go shortly after they eat.

[Goddessofwicked]

I was thinking stress as well... or maybe just irritation from whatever she had eaten that wasn't turtle-friendly.

I'll get pics up sometime tomorrow or her set-up.

and I'll definitely be on the lookout for poo or anything of the like.... um... ok so what does turtle poo NORMALLY look like? *lol* I've been a RES owner for 24 hours and I haven't seen any yet. I just want to make sure its normal. ^_^

[BullDog]

Depends on what her diet has been. Usually it's dark green/brownish, mostly depending on what pellet she's had for the last little while. It shouldn't be runny or flaky either.

I just got a big girl myself, what size is she? Do you have a name for her yet?

[Goddessofwicked]

Thanks for the poo description. Well she's roughly about 8 inches in shell length. Maybe 7. Guess I should find the measuring tape eh? Thats her in my avatar... on a DINNER plate. I mean, I've SEEN bigger RES, but she is really big.

oh, and we named her Squirt.

[Tiny]

I just had to jump in on this.

My Tiny is a female RES. She has a huge appetite. I noticed that she belches air and particles sometimes too. Poops and all, even farts! Amazing- almost human.

This is why I wonder if certain foods give indigestion. Like tonight she ate a couple(4) freeze dried krill, and seemingly each time she gets to much of it- she starts the gas, and late at night, after lights are out, she belches bubbles at the surface and gulps them back in for a while.

Is this Turtle indigestion?