General Care Discussion :: Swollen skin?

[k9ck024]

Looks like my RES's has swollen skin. What should I do? Thanks

[adbritta]

Is he the only turtle in the tank? Does he have a source of UVB? Does he have a basking lamp? When he basks, does he stretch his head all the way out of his shell and tilt his face up towards the basking light?

[k9ck024]

I have another res. I turn on UVB light once in awhile, but don't have basking lamp. I don't pay much attention to the res whenever I turn on the UVB light. However, I think the reason it's skin is swollen because I put the light too close to the tank? In that case, do I need to buy an ointment?

[steve]

Has there been any fighting? The top of the neck is a typical spot be bitten and that doesn't look like a fresh wound. From the looks of it, I would suggest separation and vet visit to check the skin.

[k9ck024]

I didn't notice fighting until moment ago when the other RES tired to bite it. However, it doesn't constantly trying to bite it. I had both of them for 2-3 years and it never happen before.

Another thing is the RES always put it's head down and has been staying at the platform for the whole day

[steve]

Is the other turtle a male?

[k9ck024]

Yes the other res is a male. It has long claw

[steve]

Most likely you're in a situation where you will have to separate them. If that is a wound, it won't heal if it's attacked again. Unfortunately, fighting will just escalate.

[k9ck024]

So far the male hasn't attack yet. Should I still separate them? If I do separate them, one will get the heater and other doesn't. What should I do to keep the other RES warm? Should I separate them temporarily or permanently? Is the reason why the female RES is at the platform the whole day and putting it's head down because it is injured? Hopefully it is nothing beyond that.

[theartbook35]

I'm pretty sure your male is attacking your female. As they get older, they'll start breeding. No offense to you at all but it doesn't sound to me like you have a proper set up for raising turtle babies. I'd separate them.

That neck injury looks very painful, and the way it is swelling means you need to go to a vet, immediately.

[k9ck024]

No I understand. When I first bought the tank couple years ago, both of the RES were small. Now they grew so much and tank is too small for RES. I don't want to throw away the tank too soon. Hopefully in the near future I'll buy them a bigger tank and have a proper setting.

Looks like the female RES got off the platform

[steve]

How often do you observe your turtles? They should be separated anyway since one is dealing with some injuries.

[k9ck024]

Since after I noticed the female is injured, I've been constantly monitoring it. I will be off to college tomorrow evening (Sunday) and won't be able to take care of them. However, I'll have either my sister or my dad to take care of them.

Now the question is, if I seperate them one of the RES will have the heater and other doesn't. At this time of the season, the temperature is cold, so that means the one that doesn't have the heater will get cold. What should I do? Another thing is do I seperate them temporary or permanently?

[steve]

Since the other is a male, you will be looking at separation sooner or later and it's usually a permanent situation. I'd swallow the cost and pick up another heater. You will need to figure out if you want a large tank thats divided for both of them, separate tanks or re-home one of them.

[apondfortimmy]

I'm having this issue in my big tank too. One female seems to be getting picked on more than the others and her neck has been pink and a little swollen lately.

What I'd really like to have is all the males behaving but that's never going to happen so now I have to work on who goes where and into which tank, etc. Frack's neck isn't bad to where I'd be worried, but it's noticeable. /sigh