Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:27 pm
Lethargy and uneven swimming are two common signs of illness along with irritated or mostly closed eyes.
As your turtle is new, it's not unusual for him to need a few days to feel comfortable enough to eat in it's new surroundings. So long as you have adequate light and heat your turtle should feel stimulated to eat. The water should be 78-80 degrees for hatchlings. You may want to add some plants (fake or real) to give him some places to hide, turtles like to have safe places to hide in- mine has a small pile of leaves suction cupped to the side of the tank that she squeezes up and under to sleep in at night.
You really shouldn't add new turtles to the tank, that adds to the chances of your turtle getting ill- all new turtles should be kept separate for 90days in case one is sick- this gives time for symptoms to show up. Also, a ten gallon tank is not large enough for two turtles. When they start eating you'll see just how quickly they grow and it won't be long at all before they need a larger tank.
Also, as others have mentioned you should remove the gravel- if the turtles are eating that you could have two very sick turtles on your hands soon.
2 RES: Leo (f) and Ezra (m)
1 Russian Tortoise: Godzilla (m)
