General Care Discussion :: Do turtles open their mouths for anything besides eating a

[zagyzebra]

Do RES turtles ever open their mouths besides when theyre eating and biting?

It was suggested that our turtle has RI because we have noticed him sporadically opening his mouth lately. However, he seems to do it mostly when we come near his tank, and much less often -- if at all -- if he doesn't know we're there. He doesn't have any other signs of RI. Appetite normal (still can't get him to eat veggies, though), swimming normal, walking around the house normal, eyes normal. He is basking a lot more lately, but I think that's because the temperature suddenly hit the 70s and 80s and he's finally getting exposed to sunshine in his tank. So I am curious if anyone else's turtles ever open their mouths, too.

I did call the vet. It's $55 for an hour's visit. I'm pressed for time and money, so I didn't want to jump the gun and go to the vet for nothing, but am still wanting the benefit of information from other people's experience.

[Turtle addict]

As long as there are no other signals he's sick then it may just be yawning. Mine are doing that alot this time of year.

[SpotsMama]

It's possible he's opening his mouth in anticipation of being fed, or even to bite you! Does he do this when you put your fingers near him?

[pumpkinsherbet]

it could be he's trying to bite you. they can be skittish or aggressive or very friendly. is this happening while in the water?

it could also be a yawn. i caught aeryn opening her mouth really wide when she was at the bottom of the tank. then she closed her eyes and tried to sleep, so i knew it was a yawn

[industrial_girl_2000]

Is there any sound that comes out of his mouth when he opens it? Like rushing air?

Turts are great at masking illness. I had one that ate like a pig until the day he died! Vet who did the autopsy told me that the turtle was so ill he couldn't believe this turtle ate as much as he did (turt's stomach was completely filled with food!).

[marisa]

Your turtle opens his mouth in the water or just when he's basking when you come near the tank? I have an eastern painted who is extremely skittish and easily threatened. Sometimes when I approach him and he's basking, he'll half open his mouth, and I think it's a warning not too get too close or else he'll bite (he really won't). Just keep an eye out for other symptoms in case the behavior is the start of something else.

[zagyzebra]

After observing him opening and closing his mouth at the rate of at least once every few minutes today while he was in the sunshine, I decided this was abnormal -- in the water/out of the water, as we approach him, when we're quiet. So I made an appointment to take him to the vet on Friday.

My 11-year-old son is only just beginning to realize what a responsibility all pets are, no matter their size. He is reconsidering whether he is up to such responsibility. Does anyone know of an RES adoption service? To complicate matters more, we live in Oregon and brought our turtle with us from Cali. After the fact, we found out that RES' are illegal in the state of Oregon!

[SpotsMama]

I think you are doing the right thing taking him to a vet. It is abnormal for him to be opening his mouth so much. Opening it occasionally or when threatened is one thing, but frequently yawning means he's having trouble breathing. The turtles that survive this sort of thing are the ones that are treated early and aggressively.

After he's better if you still feel that turtle keeping is not for you, here's link to some good rescue organizations. Do you see one near you?

www.turtlehomes.org

[DavidY]

After he's healthy again, you could try www.craigslist.com to place him up for adoption if you can no longer keep him. That's where I got my 3 RES from. Great source for all kinds of want ads too.

[turtlelover203]

My turtle was constantly opening her mouth and almost looked asthough she couldnt breathe but after she went into the water she coughed up a spidersweb and she stopped opening her mouth an finally went to sleep.

[steve]

This is a real old topic (sigh... I remember all those posters) but how are you sure it was a spider web? It could have been mucus.