General Care Discussion :: Turtle died - would like to determine why

[whitesjtaa]

My daughter had a pair of RES for the last 7 months and they were doing very well. However, the female was basking more than normal (almost constantly) to the point where she actually floated when she went in the water (dry shell we expect). Other than that, she behaved normally and ate well. My daughter discovered her upside down in the water one afternoon and she did not recover.

Before we replace her, it would be useful to try and narrow down the problem. We have a 75 gallon tank setup with the largest Fluval filter. Tank has two reptile UVB florescent bulbs and a 50W reptile basking bulb over a basking area. Water temperature is 79 degrees and water is very clean, vacuumed and 40% water change weekly. Diet is a prepared food three times per week and a diet of vegetables (peas, greens and carrots) on the other four days. We recently added a cuttlebone. Any thoughts??

Jeff

[grey goose]

When turtles "float" and cannot dive, its usually something in the GI tract. Gas bulds up, causing them to be unable to dive.
I don't know about peas, but I don't think you should feed carrots very often. I give it to my guys on the weekend, but they mostly pick at it. Someone who knows more about it should come come along shortly. Water temps seem ok (a bit on the high side, I think). When you say prepared foods, do you mean pellets? What is the basking temp?

[marisa]

She was at some point able to submerge under water? Are you sure she couldn't still do this after being in the water for a while? Was she gaining weight and growing at all?

Gas is a possibility, I suppose, but gas very often will cause a turtle to swim at an angle with it's rear higher than the front.

I once had a turtle with numerous healthy issues, one if which was the inability to submerge (even if he was pushed to the bottom, he would bob up to the surface like a cork. I suspected a chronic respiratory infection and wonder if this is at all possible with your turtle (any other symptoms along with the excessive basking?).

You said your daughter had them for 7 months---as hatchlings? If so, the water temp is OK. What's the basking area temp with that 50 watt reptile bulb?

[missibsu]

I can't add anymore advice than what has been mentioned above, but I have some other concerns.

Have you completely cleaned the tank and filter? If the turtle had an illness that the other could catch, it would be good to do a complete cleaning.

Also, do a bit of research on this site, and others, before purchasing a replacement turtle. New turtles will need to be quarantined for at least 90 days, which means a complete second set up. Then, there is no way of knowing if the old and new turts will get along. In fact, even if they do get along, they may not always get along. That is one of the things I face every day with having two. I never know when I might have to separate them.

[whitesjtaa]

Thanks for all the feedback. Answers to all questions below.

by prepared I mean pellets.
Tank has been thoroughly cleaned (pretty much spotless) and filter media has been cleaned (first phase only so as not to disturb bio filter).
I don't believe she was ever able to submerge over the last couple months. Your analogy of a cork was pretty accurate.
No other symptoms except the basking. Eyes were clear and breathing seemed normal.
We didn't feed many carrots, mostly peas, lettuce and corn and some beef and chicken.
We never measured the basking temp. I'll measure this evening when I get home. What is an appropriate basking temp?
They were pretty young when we got them, about silver dollar size.
She was slightly larger than the other one (that is why we believe she was female), but not overweight. My daughter was good about giving the right amount of food (about the size of their head).

Thanks for all the advice.
Jeff

[missibsu]

Ideally the water temp for hatchlings should be around 78F and 75F for RES over one year. The basking themp should be 10 degrees higher, although there is room for fluxuation based on the needs of your turtle. Some like it a little warmer than others.

Check out the stickys in the feeding and nutrition section. There are lists of what to feed and what not to feed. Greens are good, but beef is a no-no. Chicken should be reserved for a turtle who is not eating, and enticement food.