Urgent Care :: Slow terrapin

[godstar]

Hi

I have a question about a red eared slider that I recently aquired (about 3 weeks ago)
She is female , around 10/15 years old (the old owner didn't know) and around 17cm( carapace from head to tail) The Temp water is around 25°c The water is around a depth of 30cm, The filtration is a sponge and carbon filter within the tank, The basking Temp is around 28° it is easy to climb on and its made out of untreated terracota tile. I have been feeding her Crevettes (as the last owner fed her excusively on them and also she was only in water up the top of her shell, as well as not having a UV light the old owner did not have a basking shelf or a heater) I have also been feeding her a pellet type food (from tetra) and have tried also Dandelions, a little lettuce, some cucumber and a very little fruit. It has been around 4 days since she last ate or showed any interest in the food.

At the momment and for around a couple of days she has stayed mainly at the bottom of the tank with her head drawn in. She has came out to bask a few times but her whole demeanour seems to be one of fatigue.
She shares the tank with 4 very small baby sliders and a 3 year old TSS

She shared the same tank with an even larger Missippi Turtle(dont ask me its what the old owner said it was) than her.
Is it possible that she's had a fight with the younger one as everytime the younger swims past her she retracts even furthe or has she simply a migriane and it'll pass.

thanks to anyone that can help me

[megcornell]

One thing I noticed is that there isn't a large difference between basking temp and water temp, usually a difference of ~10F ( I think 5C) is needed to entice turtles out to bask.
Also, that's a pretty busy tank. Considering she just came from a poor environment and has a lot to get used to it may be best for her to have her own space. Not only for her own safety but for the others as well. The new girl could be ill and you don't want to expose the others. She can also get fed up with her new neighbors and adult turtles can easily kill smaller ones.
I'd separate her from the rest and see how she does. The lack of appetite can be anything from stress to illness to being gravid. It may just be she's a little overwhelmed. Surviving that long in a poor home is no easy feat, I'm sure she's a fighter .

[godstar]

Hi

thanks for the reply Just give me the temps in Farenheit and i'll do the conversions. She has been in the tank with the others since she's got here but it is a large tank (60 gallons) approx and the little ones are really little. She will be going outside into a pond possibly this weekend (if I thought she was up to it) but it looks like I am going to delay her introduction to pond life until i am sure she's well. She seemed to be okay just until the last couple of days so I feel (but could very well be wrong) its not a stress issue. If I now rehome her in another tank won't that be another change? I don't want her to feel that life s constantly changing.
So what do you consider the ideal temps in and out of the water?
I ask this question because with the sulcata I have had variuos expert opinions that have almost 12°F difference in the prefered zone. So whats an idiot to do?

[marisa]

Given the fact she's an adult, if she were healthy she should be able to do fine with a water temp in the low 70's (F) and the basking area in the high 80's (F). If she's ill, boosting the water temp for a while (I'd make the water 80F and the basking area 10 degrees higher) to boost her immune system and fight infection. She's been exposed to no cold breezes or drafts? No new/different creature was put in her new home with her?

Just curious, but what are Crevettes?

[godstar]

Hi

Thanks

Crevettes are Dried shrimps sometimes called Gamarus but with not much nutritional value but it is a product thats marketed towards Terrapins in Europe. Many people use this as a foodstuff exclusively with not much visible ill effects but its hard to wean them off them if its all they are used too. A bit like "candy" as you Americans say no good for you but it sure tastes good.

No new creature in her home and no chills or draughts.
So I spoke to her old owner this evening but as he had her in quite a bad state It was a little pointess

[godstar]

Hi

Just a little note to let you all know what I now think was the problem

She has been basking today and that her left eye lid seems to have been scraped (possibly by another) anyway she still has eaten but at least her head has come out and she seems a little more relaxed

[marisa]

That's encouraging. Just keep an eye on her (and that eyelid).