General Care Discussion :: Is my turtle dying?

[Megs]

Hi all,

I'm a brand new turtle mommy, and I've very worried that one of my babies is dying.

I just took a trip to SC, where I saw a glass tank outside a retail store filled with VERY small baby turtles, out in the sun, nearly baking alive. I bought 2 to save them (they are the size of silver dollars), and found out when I got back to GA that it's illegal to sell turtles that small, due to salmonella issues. I immediately reported the store to the US Humane Society for the cruel conditions I found the turtles in, and I also reported the store to the CDC.

The woman who ran the store knew nothing about turtles, and told me to put them in cool water. Knowing nothing myself, I did, and I wonder if it put them into shock. That was Saturday, May 27th. After the 5 hour car ride, one of the babies, named Neptune, couldn't open one of his eyes. By Sunday afternoon, he couldn't open either of them. He seems listless, and hasn't eaten or opened his eyes since Sunday, save for one brief moment when he opened his right eye yesterday for 2 seconds.

I bought a tank, water heater, water thermometer, water filter, turtle dock, lamp with UVA bulb, turtle food and turtle eyedrops. I keep the water at around 78 degrees, and the basking temp at about 85 degrees.

Thankfully, the other turtle seems chipper as can be (he's named Peapod), but little Neptune seems so sick. I've been putting eye drops on his eyes 2x a day as directed, but they're still swollen shut. There is some slight shedding of the skin, which I read is due to warm water (probably caused by the hot tank he was in, in SC).

I've read that this could be a bacterial infection. The water filter doesn't seem to be doing anything with the waste, which seems to be sitting on the bottom of the tank. Is there a special type of filter I should have bought? I'm about to change the water right now.

Is there anything else I can do for little Neptune? He's so precious, and it's killing me that he seems to be so sick. I understand that turtles need to heal themselves, but I'm just so worried.

Any thoughts? Thank you for reading my post.

-Megan

[missibsu]

First off, if you haven't, you need to seperate the two. I know that right now that means extra expenses, but what one turtle has could be given to the other. For a cheaper option, you could just use a rubbermaid container.

For Neptune, it wouldn't hurt to raise the temp to around 81 or 82 degrees. It will help boost his immune system. Unfortunately hatchlings have a high mortality rate, and being kept in the conditions he was in doesn't help. That said, it does take turts awhile to adjust to new set ups, so don't give up hope just yet! I would recommend a trip to a herp vet for both of them, especially Neptune, but the other, just for a check up.

Let us know if you hear back from the CDC and humane society. I'd be interested in knowing what they have to say. Unfortunately those stands that sell the baby turts are all over and buying them to save them just supports them. Mine were in the same conditions when I bought them, only in a mall. I wasn't given proper instruction either.

The filter you get should be rated 3x's the tank capacity. There are several brands that people use and recommend, just check some previous posts. I have whisper in one tank, and a rena filstar in the other. I have also used fluval, and it worked well until the handle broke.

Good Luck, and keep us posted!

[marisa]

How big a temp difference was there from the water they were in to the cool water you put them in? Hatchlings are quite sensitive to temperature changes.

It's possible that the one turtle was sick when you had already bought him, and was even more sensitive to the temp change.

No filter is going to pick up the poop off the bottom of the tank. They're main purpose is to keep the water clear. It would be good to get a turkey baster and suction the poop from the bottom to help keep the water cleaner. You didn't say what kind of filter you have, but filters are made for fish, not turtles, therefore the need for one that's more powerful than you would usually buy (one rated for about 3x the size of the tank).

Does the area around the eyes seemed burned at all? What drops are you using (Zoo-Med)? Try some plain cod liver oil applied to the lids with a q-tip once or twice a day for a few days and see if that helps. If it's a Vit A deficiency (swollen eyes are a sign of this), it should help. The oil would also help the skin heal if it did get damaged from the heat.

Will the turtle eat? Try feeding smelly foods, bloodworms or live food like small pieces of earthworm.

[Megs]

Hello everyone,

Thank you very much for your feedback regarding Neptune. I've had him 8 days now, and he still hasn't opened his eyes, or eaten anything. I've tried red leaf lettuce, turtle pellets (which look like fiber cereal), and little crispy things that look like mini-shrimp. I'll have to try bloodworms, to see if the smell will entice him to eat.

Missi, I immediately took your advice and separated my 2 turtles. Little Peapod is happy as a clam in his plastic container with his little "cave" to hide in or climb on.

As for Neptune, I've raised the basking temperature to around 90F, and the water temp to around 80. The filter in my 10-gallon tank is a "Whisper 10i". Marisa, that was a great idea about the turkey baster. It's on my list of things to get for him. The eye drops I've been using are "Repti Turtle Eye Drops", but they don't seem to be helping. Even though his eyes are closed, the drops appear to sting little Neptune's eyes. He scurries away quickly (about the only movement I see out of him), and then he starts pawing at his eyes, like he's trying to wipe the drops out. (Poor little guy.) The skin around his eyes doesn't appear burned, but it does appear dry. I'll get the cod liver oil, and hope that soothes it. Tomorrow, I search for a herp vet. I hope I find one close by, because I don't want to traumatize him with more travel.

As for my responses from the e-mails I sent: the USHS sent a nice reply, telling me that they contacted the FDA, to follow up with the turtle-selling ban. The CDC sent me a snippy little reply, telling me to report it to the SC State Health Department. I plan to do so, and also report this store to the Hilton Head BBB. It's sad that it takes money to motivate people to change animals' conditions, but if that's the most effective way, so be it.

I'll continue to keep you posted on Neptune's condition. I really do appreciate your concern!

[jridge]

Megs.....send me the address or location of the turtle shop.....My brother works for SC DHEC.......I will have him handle it if possible......If you prefer you can e-mail me at jridge@sourcelink.com.......

Thanks

[missibsu]

Wow, an inside resource...does he have contacts in other states?

[jridge]

Nah......just South Carolina........The turtle police !!

[Megs]

Hi all,

Thanks again for the input. It's been an interesting go-around, trying to get any type of organization (aside from the USHS) to do anything about the illegal turtle sales.

Here are my responses:

From the CDC:

"Thank you for your interest in CDC. You would need to report this to the South Carolina State Health Department for assistance at 803-898-3300.

Thanks,

Public Inquiry
CP"

Wow, that was thorough. So I contacted the SC BBB:

"If this business is breaking the law I suggest that you contact the police department. If they are causing a health risk I suggest that you contact the health department. If you would like to file a complaint with our organization you will need to submit all the information that we require. You can do this online by going to http://www.bbb.org or you can fill out the attached form and mail it back to our office. Thank you.

Michelle Jones
IT Manager"

Again, thank you for making me jump through hoops. What do these people DO all day??!!

I contacted the SC State Health Department, and never heard back. Bottom line -- no one cares. What a travesty.

[Megs]

I forgot to add the name/location of this store, just to make it public that this store is harming turtles:

The store is called "Island Breeze", across the street from Coligny Plaza. The address is 8 Beach Place, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and their phone number is (843) 341-5575

[reptilegrrl]

Megs, have you taken Neptune to a vet yet? It really sounds like he is in a bad way. I hope you can get him some help soon.

[TheTurtleGuy55]

Hey I heard that guy got arrested like a week ago or something, and i don't know what he's being fined or anything. But Iv'e had my turtle for about 6 or 7 months and I think he's doing fine right now. (Yes I did buy him from the same guy) Even with a larger turtle of mine. Though that is not really reccomended but they get along quite well. Fyi, when I bought him, he and all the other turtles were inside and pretty active. I hope Neptune is okay nowadays.