General Care Discussion :: Turtle help!

[rebeccaann318]

I just got a new turtle from a pet store hes a baby about the size of a quater. I got him two weeks ago and he has not eatin since i got him. i dont know why i have baby turtle food and ive tried everything but he just wont eat! He also will not come out of his water he has a place where and can bask in the light but he never does i dont know if hes sick or not and it it normal for him to have bubbles coming out of his nose. This is the first time ive ever had a turtle so any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[steve]

What is his setup like? Do you know what the water temperatures are? Is he being handled often?

[Love of Animals]

Are the bubbles coming out of his nose when he's in the water or out of the water? Along with Steve's questions.

[rebeccaann318]

He is in a 10 gallon tank with a fliter and he has a heat lamp on the dry part of his cage he has rocks for him to walk on and i take him out about every otherday or so ive been taking him outside so his shell can get some time to dry. but they are coming out of his nose when he is in the water.

[rebeccaann318]

Also his shell has been soft since i got him i read that it can be becuase hes a baby but im scared its shell rot...

[Miss Tee]

Is it very easy for him to get onto the basking area?
As to eating, try soaking some of his baby pellets in tuna water to make them smell delicious.. or try jello shots for turtles (recipe is posted in "Feeding & Nutrition")

[Love of Animals]

Turtles will let bubbles out of their nose when submerging under water. It's nothing to worry about. Is shell will be soft for a while that is normal. It will harden up as he ages. Do try what what Miss Tee said with jello shots.

[sflemin2]

Make sure there is no gravel in the tank

[rebeccaann318]

Okay i will try the tuna thing and the jello shots but yea he can walk right up it. And his shell is turning a brown pinkish color on the bottom is that normal? There is rocks in his tank but none that he could swollow

[rebeccaann318]

I tried to tuna and nothing....

[Kurtni]

What's your water and basking temperatures like? If it's too cold, they can be lethargic and not eat.

[rebeccaann318]

water is 75 and basking is 80-85ish

[Jaysea]

For a hatchling turtle you'll want the water more like 78-80 and a basking area of 90-95. Sometimes it takes awhile for a turtle to eat when they are getting used to new surroundings. Some of them also take awhile to bask, he might be basking when your not around. Hatchlings are pretty skittish around people at first.

Do you have any pictures of your turtle, showing the coloring on his shell?

[rebeccaann318]

okay ill see if i can get the water to heat up. Is it okay if its already been two weeks without him eating? and yea i just took some pictures today so ill put them on here in a little

[Jaysea]

Are you sure he isn't eating, or just isn't eating in front of you? Not sure if you feed in the tank or in a seperate feeding bowl. Sometimes if you put their pellets in the water and just walk away and come back a little later there might be some missing. When i first got my RES she didn't like to eat in front of me, so i'd give her privacy and she'd eat while i wasn't in the room. You can also try using a veggie clip and attaching a piece of romaine or red leaf lettuce on it just in case your turtle wants something to nibble on.