Habitat - Indoor :: worried about my turtle

Turtle tank setups and other indoor configurations.

Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 7:52 pm   worried about my turtle

We moved my turtle to a new aquarium today, and at first she was acting normal, but now she's just laying on the bottom with her eyes closed. At first we just thought she was sleeping, but she keeps rubbing her eyes with her front legs, and when she does swim a bit she seems slower than normal and is still keeping her eyes shut most of the time. We tried showing her the pellet container, as usually she goes nuts over it, but she didn't act interested at all. She hasn't even tried getting into her new basking platform yet, and when we put her on it she dives back off immediately. Is there something we may have done wrong setting up the aquarium that could be making her sick, or do turtles normally act this weird in a new environment? Thanks in advance.

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Cherry
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Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 7:56 pm   

Shes not basking because shes getting use to the tank, about the eyes, did u de chlorinate the water? (Used a water conditioner?) also do you have a uvb bulb? how close is it to the water/basking area? Your turtle will recover from this once you make changes to the UVB bulb placement or when you find out what you did to the water recently to irritate the turtles eyes.

Also, if it doesn't get better they sell turtle eye drops at pet stores.
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Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 8:04 pm   

ScrewZoo wrote:Shes not basking because shes getting use to the tank, about the eyes, did u de chlorinate the water? (Used a water conditioner?) also do you have a uvb bulb? how close is it to the water/basking area? Your turtle will recover from this once you make changes to the UVB bulb placement or when you find out what you did to the water recently to irritate the turtles eyes.

Also, if it doesn't get better they sell turtle eye drops at pet stores.



The UVB bulb is about the same distance away as it was on her other tank. I've never used water conditioner before, although i now have some, i was kind of afraid of it, since i have never used it before. We filled the aquarium the same way we always do. I got the aquarium from a family member who has filled it before, but never had anything living in it. It was bought second hand from a fish shop before that. I rinsed it with hot water, but didn't use soap on it before we filled it. Is it possible there are chemicals on it i can't see or smell? Thanks.

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Cherry
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Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:05 pm   

That is possible but not likely, Maybe you put too much water conditioner, try turning your UVB off for a day or so and see if it gets better.. Thats you're problem.
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Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:24 pm   

ScrewZoo wrote:That is possible but not likely, Maybe you put too much water conditioner, try turning your UVB off for a day or so and see if it gets better.. Thats you're problem.


Thanks for the advice.

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Cherry
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Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:28 pm   

No problem update me if it gets better.
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Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:58 pm   

ScrewZoo wrote:No problem update me if it gets better.


I hadn't conditioned the water yet, as i was intimidated because i've never used water conditioner before. The chlorine never seemed to bother her before, but sure enough as soon as i put the conditioner in she started opening her eyes. Maybe the city levels have gone up recently. Before joining this forum i didn't know turtles needed the water conditioned.

Thanks for all your help.

Peace,
Cherry
Owner of:
1 chinese water dragon, Malachite
2 red ear sliders, Green Lady and Clover
2 lab mixes, Sky and Tank Girl aka Tank
3 ferrets, Bandit, Pirate, and Rogue
6 cats, Akasha, Amatsu, Oz, Coyote, Thoth, and Ra
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Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:59 pm   

No problem, glad its better. you might wanna try to move your uvb a little farther back just in case that made the situation worse (If you can)
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Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:02 pm   

I'll try that. She has also tried out her new cork bark basking platform now. I'm happy. :)

Peace,
Cherry
Owner of:
1 chinese water dragon, Malachite
2 red ear sliders, Green Lady and Clover
2 lab mixes, Sky and Tank Girl aka Tank
3 ferrets, Bandit, Pirate, and Rogue
6 cats, Akasha, Amatsu, Oz, Coyote, Thoth, and Ra
hiddenpassions
 
Posts: 43
Joined: Oct 24, 2008
Location: Denton, Tx

Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:03 pm   

Awesome, watch out ith corkbark though sometimes it turns the water yellow.
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Post Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:45 am   

Water conditioner is VERY VERY SAFE and recommended. Remember to do it EVERYTIME you change or add water to your tank.

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Post Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:06 pm   

Arisu wrote:Water conditioner is VERY VERY SAFE and recommended. Remember to do it EVERYTIME you change or add water to your tank.


When i add water or do a partial water change do i treat for the total gallons in the tank, or an estimate of how much i think i added? The bottle i have doesn't specify. Thanks.

Peace,
Cherry
Owner of:
1 chinese water dragon, Malachite
2 red ear sliders, Green Lady and Clover
2 lab mixes, Sky and Tank Girl aka Tank
3 ferrets, Bandit, Pirate, and Rogue
6 cats, Akasha, Amatsu, Oz, Coyote, Thoth, and Ra
hiddenpassions
 
Posts: 43
Joined: Oct 24, 2008
Location: Denton, Tx

Post Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:11 pm   

Regardless of distance, is the UVB new? There can be bad bulbs even if it's a brand you've had no previously problems with.
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Post Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:11 pm   

Also, my water has turned cloudy today. Does anybody know what may have caused that? It's not yellow. It's a whitish cloudiness. My water has never turned cloudy overnight before. I am using an Eheim classic 2215 canister filter with new media in it. Maybe my husband didn't rinse the new filter pads well enough? Thanks for any input.

Peace,
Cherry
Owner of:
1 chinese water dragon, Malachite
2 red ear sliders, Green Lady and Clover
2 lab mixes, Sky and Tank Girl aka Tank
3 ferrets, Bandit, Pirate, and Rogue
6 cats, Akasha, Amatsu, Oz, Coyote, Thoth, and Ra
hiddenpassions
 
Posts: 43
Joined: Oct 24, 2008
Location: Denton, Tx

Post Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:13 pm   

steve wrote:Regardless of distance, is the UVB new? There can be bad bulbs even if it's a brand you've had no previously problems with.


I've had it for two or three months. My turtle's eyes are fine now, but my water is cloudy.

Peace,
Cherry
Owner of:
1 chinese water dragon, Malachite
2 red ear sliders, Green Lady and Clover
2 lab mixes, Sky and Tank Girl aka Tank
3 ferrets, Bandit, Pirate, and Rogue
6 cats, Akasha, Amatsu, Oz, Coyote, Thoth, and Ra
hiddenpassions
 
Posts: 43
Joined: Oct 24, 2008
Location: Denton, Tx

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