Feeding and Nutrition :: Not eating or active anymore...

[Crash]

Hi. I have two RES (Crush and Crash) both about 2 months old. Crash is doing great he's eating all the time and very active. Crush was doing great for most of the time I've had him and always used to eat well and such. Now he's just not eating at all. I feed them both together in their tank. I noticed that Crush hasn't been eating lately though (past few days). So today I fed him out of his tank (like i used to when I first got him) and put in 6 pellets of "Turtle Bites" and 4 "Reptomin" sticks. He doesn't even touch them though I left him with it for nearly two hours. Also, I noticed he is floating/swimming a little lopsided (his right side is lower than his left so he is swimming at an angle). Also I always see him just sitting on the turtle dock basking under the light never swimming around like he used to. I know turtles can bask for a long time hours on end but this is pretty much every time I see him. Sometimes he will dive into the water if I come near and he gets frightened but aside from that he is always sitting there. How can I entice him to start eating again? Should I try soaking the pellets in tuna juice or something? Any ideas why the lopsided swimming? Please help

[cprcheetah]

If he's lopsided he may have a respiratory infeciton. I would get him to a herp vet as soon as you can.

[Crash]

I know what a vet is of course but what is a "herp vet"? Any idea where I can find out close (or as close as possible) to Hoboken, NJ (that's where I live). I've actually never taken a pet to the vet before so how much do you think it'll cost me to take the turt?

[cprcheetah]

A herp vet is a vet that is informed about and deals with Herps (Reptiles, Amphibians etc).

Here is where to find a herp vet:
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=370
I know in Utah it's $40.00 for the office visit and then more for medicine any other treatments. But if you don't take him in and he has a Resp infection....you may lose him.

[Crash]

Thanks. I will try to take him when I get the chance hopefully this weekend if they are open.

Any ideas on how to entice him to eat?

[cprcheetah]

I would try soaking the pellets in Tuna Juice....brine shrimp worked WONDERS for my Zeke when he wasn't eating the best. Good luck. Keep us posted.

[steve]

Herp is short for herpetological, a branch of science that deals with reptiles and amphibians. You should be able to find a few in a big city, and ask them what their rates are.