I need help from someone who knows red sliders well. I purchased two red sliders from a pet store here in oklahoma, about 5-6 weeks ago. They were about 4 months old when we got them, and both females. We have them in a 75 gallon reptile aquarium with a basking shelf, basking light, in-water filter made for up to 80 gallons, no gravel on bottom, submersible heater made for 80 gall tank enclosed in pvc pipe. We have approximately 20 gallons of water in the tank and the temperature stays pretty much at 81.2 degrees. We change about 1/3 of the water once a week, and we use the basking light about 10 hours/day.
The turtles were purchased at the same time. I knew they were an investment in time, so I ask lots of questions before buying. We brought them home and they weren't eating, we were not worried. We left them alone, and after few days one of the turtles started eating. We noticed the other turtle would never eat, never got in the water, was sneezing and keeping her mouth open. Sometimes a sound would come out, sometimes not. Then when she would get in the water, or we put her in the water, she would swim sideways, and scramble to the rock shelf for basking. Within a few more days, she had white foamy bubbles coming out of her mouth.
On the 10th day, we took her back to the store, told them her 10 day history with us, and they offered to buy her back so she could see their vet, since she was under warranty. The store kept her for 1 day, and then called us back and said the vet found nothing, and never saw a discharge from her mouth. So, we bought her back. A couple of days later, the discharge became more pronounced, and she was makinmg more noise, and still not eating. We called the store again, and they bought her back again!
This time the store kept our sick turtle for two weeks. They never diagnosed her with anything, but said they gave her a series of shots. They said she wasn't eating much, and I might have to force-feed her, but to come pick her up. I picked her up three days ago. The next day she had the bubbly discharge coming from her mouth, although it is gone now. She still won't eat anything, stays out of water and on the basking dock, when she is put in the water she swims sideways and won't stay in the water, and she keeps her mouth open a lot sort of like she is screaming but nothing comes out. Occasionally you will hear her make a noise.
I am at a loss as to what to do. The pet store and their vet act like I am just being silly, that she will eat in time. The other turtle is eating about once a day, stays in the water most of the time but seems healthy and happy. What can I do, or look for? Is she still sick or still getting better?
