General Care Discussion :: how can you tell a healthy RES?

[shelach]

what are the signs, if any, that a RES is healthy?
ie. propper coloring? reactions?

Also, my guy had blood poisoning. He looks better now (after a month) but how can i be sure its gone?

[marisa]

If you want to be sure that there's no trace of infection, take your turtle to a herp vet for testing. (Are you sure this is what the turtle had to begin with?)

If you do some reading on the site, you should get an idea of what a healthy turtle is like. Basically, I'd look for a healthy eater and active swimmer. Eyes should be bright and clear and not swollen. The turtle should be alert, and react to you picking him up (not just lay on the palm of your hand, but either retract into the shell or try to get away). Skin, shell and nails should look healthy and not have any lesions or discoloring.

[shelach]

Honestly... i cant afford a vet trip right now.
I did alot of reading when i first got my RES. and even more when i adoped a sick one.

The bottom of his shell was light pink. very light like pink lemonaid. and only near where his limbs come out. his skin around the nech and limbs had a very light tint of pink too.

From what i found on the internet it looked like a very early stage of a blood poisoning. He was a little slow and genrely pale. I did this whole treatment with tetracycling, and am still changing his water every other day. Now he is eating more, begging, and swimming around. His shell and skin are not pink at all. He is even growing and sheding and a nice color green again. Also very active when held.

[da sAUCE!]

he sounds healthy. keep up the good work. mow some lawns or do some odd-jobs and get some bucks and take him to the vet, though

[DavidY]

That's great that you were able to nurse him back to health by yourself! Is all the pink coloring gone now?

[shelach]

Yes.
all the pink is gone. He looks just like my other healthy turtles, just a little smaller. he didnt realy grow much while sick, he sure is growing now.