Urgent Care :: Help! Turtle has not been raised properly for 20 years.

[RaphaelDelaghetto]

So my grandma's turtle has been growing up in a standard fish tank for its whole life (since it was young) with little water. It used to swim when it was little, but still not a lot. They kept very little water in the tank (I was too young myself to remember the details) but I suspect because of the levels that the water didn't have a filtration system. My grandma just moved in with us and has been keeping the turtle in a 2-foot tub, replacing water when visually needed and a brick for it to stand on. We don't clean him so I think the dry white stuff is just deposit from hard water. He's shedding on his underside. We keep him in the laundry room so there's a small window, but little to no natural light.

Pretty much, I'm surprised it's not dead yet (although I've heard it's a pretty hardy animal). As far as I can tell, the turtle seems pretty healthy other than the fact that he can't swim and doesn't walk very well. His shell isn't soft, he doesn't wheeze or anything or seem to have irregular breathing. He has no runny nose or rashy skin.

I've let him out for a walk right now in my living room. Now that I'm able to, I'd really like to help my turtle live a more normal life. However, I'm afraid that throwing too many lifestyle changes can shock him. Is this possible? And how can I start changing his lifestyle for the better?

The question sheet:
How big is your turtle? 7 in
How long have you had it? approx 20 years

What is the water temperature? N/A (tap water)
Did you use a thermometer? no
Are you using a water heater? no
How much water is in there? 1 in
Are you using a water conditioner? no
Are you using any filtration? no

What is the basking temperature? N/A
Is there a basking light? no
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? one brick
Is there a UVB light? no

What have you been trying to feed it? aquatic turtle food with added vitamins and minerals (from the pet store)
When was the last time your turtle ate? this morning

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 2 sq ft
Is the tank near a window? no
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? no (laundry room)

Have you read the Basic Care section? yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? can't swim or walk well

[sflemin2]

How many inches is the turtle and how many gallons is the container?

The first thing you need to do is get a tank that can hold 10 gallons per one inch of shell. This may be 100+ gallons (I recommend looking on Craiglist). Don't fill the water up all the way .. it sounds like he needs to build up muscles in his legs so you will have to fill it gradually like you would with a baby. You need a water heater, a light like this http://www.amazon.com/Repti-Glo-Compact ... 95&sr=8-36, a regular household light for heat, and a basking light. You need to get a thermometer for the water and the basking area. You also need a hardcore filter.

It is going to be expensive to set everything up but it will be worth it! Can you post some pictures of him? The white stuff could be fungus

[steve]

They mention that it is 7". There are few options on how to proceed, though you would obviously need to invest in some equipment. You can slowly increase water levels (always be very watchful when water levels are not as deep as the turtle is long since they can drown if caught upside down) or temporarily place him in deeper water under supervision.

[Miss Tee]

Hey! We don't want to overwhelm the guy--this stuff might be too much ($) to fix all at once.
For now, I'd try to slowly (an inch every few days) try to increase that water level in the tub. Turtles LOVE to swim--he'll get the hang of it. He probably needs to build up his leg strength.
Set up a hanging lightbulb above his basking area--so he has heat and wants to climb up there.
He's survived with less than ideal conditions for 20 years--so he'll probably hang in there while you work--bit by bit--to make everything right! (Tank, filter, heater, etc.)
Have patience-it takes time to do all this stuff...