Urgent Care :: turtle parasites/worms

[LeslieMW]

so my hatchling wasn't eating..and i think i found out why.

i was looking in the tank and i found this little squigly worm/parasite. very small, sortof a light brown color with a black head.

since it was one i didn't really think anything of it, but then i found another, and another, and another!

i keep the water very clean, so any ideas?

[SpotsMama]

Take a stool sample to a vet and get it checked. Internal parasites are pretty common with turtles. A stool sample is easy for a vet to check and it shouldn't cost you much. The treatment depends on the type of parasite - and the vet will need to advise you on the right treatment for your hatchling.

Good luck.

[LeslieMW]

one problem, my little hatchling doesn't eat much...and it's never really pooped. i don't know how i'd get a sample.

[untsmurf]

Could you take in the worms?

[SpotsMama]

Hmm. Usually with internal parasites, turtles eat a lot but don't grow because the parasites are stealing all the nuitrition. I have heard of cases where the parasites apparently dampened the turtle's appetite but it usually goes the other way. Is it possible that the worms are not (edit) parasites, but just free floating worms that have begun growing in your tank?

Worms or parasites can come into a tank a lot of ways - from spoiled food, on plants, from feeder fish. Sometimes you never find out where they came from.

It's worrisome that your hatchling doesn't eat much. They usually want more food than is good for them. How long have you had him?

[LeslieMW]

i've only had it for about a week and a half. i got her from a store that had tons of hatchlings all lumped together in a tiny sealed container. i decided to "save" one, i'm worried she could have gotten a sickness from another turtle, or maybe she is just very stressed out and dosen't want to eat.

i've tried alot of different foods, but she doesn't want to eat them. yet she bites at everything and will bite at bubbles in the tank. she seems hungry yet won't eat. but i'm hoping she takes a few bites of the food that i leave in the tank.

maybe that's how the parasites came? from the food in the tank?


and i think you are right, they are probably free floating worms. i did a full water change and i will keep my eye on it for any sign of worms.

i am going to a petco tomorrow for aquarium sand and feeder fish for my other turtle...anything i should get for my new hatchling?

[LeslieMW]

Could you take in the worms?

yes i have them in a container right now, but i'm gonna wait a bit to see if they were just free floating worms like spotsmama said.

[SpotsMama]

Here are some tips on enticing a turtle to eat:

http://www.redearslider.com/entice_eating.html

When a little turtle is brand new, he/she is usually too nervous to eat right away. After a week or ten days he/she should calm down and start behaving normally. "Normal" for a young turtle is usually lively and skittish - they'll fly off the dock if they are basking and see you coming and run and hide every time you come near. They may be eating but not when you're around. After awhile they get more confident. when they figure out that you're the one that's feeding them, they'll stop running when they see you and will eat in front of you.

Are you sure your guy isn't eating when you're not around?

[LeslieMW]

well that's what i'm hoping, that she's eating when i don't look, but i don't see much evidence to that.

well i went to petco today and got some hatchling turtle food and some good live feeder fish.

[LeslieMW]

well good news, she actually ate today, even out of my hand!! this is the first time i've ever witnessed her eating, so i feel alot better (bet she does too)! and she basked alot today too!


it's funny that she decides to do this today, i just got new aquarium decorations today! maybe she likes them? hahah