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I have had a couple of sliders for 3 years now with no problems, but recently one of them has started to react strangly after being fed. He eats the same sort of volume as always, but after eating he is trying to bite himself in the neck (this does look strange) and is using unusual actions with his front legs in an action that looks like he is trying to clear something from his throat.

I am at a loss to understand what is going on here and need some help if possible.

He also is basking under an artificial UV light almost all of the time and does not really show much in the way of activity. When he is fed he seems to be active enough, but something is not right.

Can you see anything unusual in his mouth - like bleeding or fungus or an injury?

What do you feed him?

Any swelling around the head or neck?

Is he pooping normally?

Is your other turtle more active than this one?

How big are the two turtles?

Can you see anything unusual in his mouth - like bleeding or fungus or an injury?

No all apears normal

What do you feed him?

They eat
Blood worms,
fish (frozen, but thawed first before feeding) this stuff has added to it vegetables, calcium and vitimin a,d,b &e
Wasp and insect larvae with added calcium

All of the food so far has been purchased at a pet shop and is specifically designed for Turtle.


Any swelling around the head or neck?
no swelling that I can tell.

Is he pooping normally?
yes, pretty much as they eat as they have always done.

Is your other turtle more active than this one?

The other turtle is as active as ever and apears normal

How big are the two turtles?

One is 130mm (the troubled one)
the other is about 170mm

I don't know what the problem could be. Maybe your turtle does have something stuck in throat. Maybe someone else on here will have seen it before and can advise you. I'd say to take him to a vet.

yeah, vet tomorrow I think. I am trying to find one in the area that knows something about turtles......

Know any good ones (in Wellington, New Zealand)

There are a bunch of Kiwi's on here and some of them, I recall, have had to make trips to the vet. Hopefully someone will respond to your situation. In the meantime, I remember this thread where some sort of vet in NZ was mentioned. I don't know if this is anywhere close to you but if not maybe you could phone them and they could give you a good reference:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... ght=#68752

The reference to the NZ vet is on the second page of the topic.

Just make sure you KNOW the vet is trained to take care of turtles. I recently had a very bad experience.

I'd also adjust the diet. Bloodworms contain a lot of protein, frozen fish may contain thiaminase and I'd skip the larvae too.

Thanks for all the advise.

I wound the temperaure up a couple of degs to 28.5 and this seems to of done the trick. He seems a lot hsppier and is not showing the same symptoms as previously.

The frozen fish and larvae are specifically designed and manufactured for turtles and are recommended by Vets and turtle owners. I think I'll keep feeding them this stuff as it has all of the nutrients and vitimins they need. Thanks anyways for your advise.