Urgent Care :: Floating Baby Turtle

[Jeff]

How big is your turtle?
About an 1 1/4"

How long have you had it?
1 hour

What is the water temperature?
82 degrees

Did you use a thermometer?
Yes. digital and "normal"

Are you using a water heater?
Yes, 200 watt for 55 gallon

How much water is in there?
approx. 50 gallons

Are you using a water conditioner?
Yes

Are you using any filtration?
Yes, fluval 405 canister, and Fluval 4 flus internal

What is the basking temperature?
90 degrees

Is there a basking light?
Yes

Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on?
Yes

What kind is it or what is it made out of?
Turtle topper

Is there a UVB light?
Yes

What have you been trying to feed it?
Nothing yet

When was the last time your turtle ate?
n/a

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure?
55 gallon show.

Is the tank near a window?
No

Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity?
No

Have you read the Basic Care section?
Yes

Have you searched the forums for similar situations?
Yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms?
Yes. I just got home from picking the guy up (because the stupid USPS did NOT deliver it when it was suppose to be here) and I put him in the water, and he just floats at the top!! I have my other little guy Baxter who does not float unless he wants to. The best way to describe it is like trying to put a plastic floating toy underwater. If I push him under, when I let go he just shoots right to the top. Any ideas?

Other than that he's not swimming lopsided at all, no foaming at the mouth or anything. He was scratching at his eyes it looked like, but he was really dried out from the shipping process. He isn't really swimming around right now, but that's prob. from the shock of being shipped out.

Please give any advice you can! Thanks!!

[TheComputerGremlin]

Sometimes small air bubbles can get trapped in various places on the turtle, under the skin, under the shell, in the organs, etc.

I would recommend that you just give the turtle a few days to get used to the new settings, and the air should gradually settle out. Keep a close eye on him for other signs of respiratory infection, but most likely it's nothing serious.

[gwennie]

I was advised by my vet never to push a turtle under like that if they appear to only be floating - that could damage their lungs.

Just give him a bit of time to adjust, and keep observing him like Gremlin said for other signs of an RI.

[Moose]

Just give him his space a vet check if it continues.

what a cute little guy what kind of turtle is he?

[jozzep]

Some stupid breeders ship turtles out in a cloth bag with packing peanuts.....Is this the case?
If so he might have eaten some of the foam and now just floats around.
I received 2 musk turtles once that were shipped like that and one would just float around.Eventually i noticed he had some of the foam peanuts lodged in between the leg sockets and that was what was making him float around. He also had RI and died after a few weeks. Needless to say that breeder never got any other business from me! It was my first online turtle purchase and i learned a lot since then. Now "I" ship turtles and only the best way possible.

[Spike 7.62]

Give him space and time to adjust. Don't push him down, boyancy is created by the air in his lungs, he knows how to float and sink by instinct.

Who knows what kind of conditions he was kept in previously by the retailer. Maybe he's never been in water that deep, or been without so many other turtles around him. It will take some adjusting time. I ordered my two RES as hatchlings, and I bet they weren't kept in a 20gal tank with rosie minnows and rock formations at the retailer.

Just keep an eye on him, and wait it out You're little guy will be exploring the depths of his tank sooner or later. Good luck.

-spike

[Jeff]

Thanks for the responses guys! Actually the turt in the picture is my RES Baxter. I've had him for about 4 or 5 months now. The new turtle I got is a Northern Diamondback Terrapin.

I've had him for a week now and he's has shown that he can swim with ease. My only concern now is his lack of interest in doing so!! He seems to hide out in the corner of the tank (at lease when I'm around). But when I grab him and put him towards the middle of the tank he swims around and dives, but after a few minutes he's right back to the corner and just sits there.

He's eating cuttlebone, but doesn't really have any interest in any of the food so far.

Anyways, thanks for all the help everyone!

[Moose]

oh okay! well thats a beautiful Pastel RES! I wish both baxter and squirt the best!

[Spike 7.62]

Very good to hear

Just be careful as they get older. DBT's are one of the most docile and easy going species of turtle, I volunteer at a museum which has several in captivity, and I encounter them in the wild around my house. RES however, are one of the most aggressive species of turtle. Snappers are more dangerous to other species because of size and power, but the RES may show dominance by stealing food, hoarding the basking area and even causing harm or death to a tank mate. Just be prepared in the future for two set ups, but as little guys there may not be issues.

Just food for thought!

-Spike