Urgent Care :: Turtles... doesn't move or eat unless I put the food...

[testinz]

I have 2 turtles (red eared). One has been very active before but very quiet recently. They don't walk around, stay in only one place and they don't eat until I put the food right in front of their mouth. One of the turtle keep trying to go after the food but she keeps missing it if I don't put it in front of her mouth.

I also have problem feeding them food. There are only 3 types of food they eat: salmon, shrimps and raw meat. I tried to feed them other types of food but they never eat those.

I am going to bring the turtle to the vet this weekend but he wasn't able to help with those issues before.

Do you have any suggestion?

Thanks!

[Nettle]

Don't feed them raw meat!!! That's just as bad as raw meat for people.

Have they only recently started eat meat-only or has it always been like this?

If it's only recently, then they've probably learned that the "hand" is a sucker and will feed them meat if they don't eat anything else. Don't feed them anything but pellets and greens and see if they snap out of it.

If it's always been like this, then try to soak pellets in tuna juice, let them harden over-night, and try those.

Feeding them too much protein can lead to pyramiding which is a serious health problem and can lead to organ failure and physical disability. I learned that too late.

[SpotsMama]

One of the common causes of poor appetite and lethargy (not moving around much) in turtles is temperatures that are too cool. Water temp should be around 75 (or 78 for a hatchling) and basking temp should be around 90 degrees. What are your temps like?

[industrial_girl_2000]

Can you post a picture of your turtles' set up? I agree with Spotsmama regarding temperatures....Red ear slider turtles are considered a "tropical" animal & need warmer water than just "room temperature." They also need a place to get out of the water to dry off, and a UVB lamp to sit under.

did you read the "basic care" section on the main website www.redearslider.com? That can give you a lot of really great info on how to give your turtles the best environment possible. Feeding ONLY raw meat is not good for them.

[Vtolds]

I would stop feeding them all the stuff you are feeding them and just feed pellets and Veggies. You can soak the pellets in tuna juice to give it a different taste. After a few days of just pellets and veggies in there tank they will be so hungry they will start to it them.

[marisa]

When you said they don't walk around, you meant swim, right? How big is the tank and how much water do you have in it?

What other types of food have you tried to feed them?

What is the basking area temp and water temp?

The RES native to North America are considered to be temperate, not tropical species.

Is it warm where you are now? If so, is AC being used in the room they're in?

[RunninWideOpen]

the turtles not moving sound like an illness, but it could also just be a temperature problem like the others have said.

if you take your turtles to a vet, it needs to be a herp vet, trained in the care of turtles and other reptiles. other vets will not be able to help you (but some will still gladly take your money).

that said....there are many knowledgable people here that can help if you provide more info. use the sticky at the top of the urgent care section and fill out all the information and post it here so we can get a better idea of the situation.