Urgent Care :: Red bruise marks on the bottom

[Gordon89]

I picked up my RES today to change the water since it is nearly empty. However, I to examining his body and found there are red bruises at the bottom.



Please observe and give me a response ASAP!!!

P.S. he didn't move much except sleeping for the past days[/img]

[Az^FolkSinger]

I would get him to a herb vet asap.

[sonyj]

That really doesn't look good. Could it be Septicemia? How is his behavior? I would get him to a herp vet and have it checked out.

[cam722]

I agree, I'd get him to a vet ASAP. I know their plastron can get pinkish when they are growing but that doesn't look like growth. You said that you were changing his water because it was almost empty. What kind of setup do you have him in? Those sorts of details help us to be able to help you .. so can you answer these few questions?

1. What size tank?
2. Water/Basking temps?
3. Do you have UVB/UVA Lighthing?
4. Do you have a filter, if so what kind?
5. Do you have a water heater?

I also dont think this should have been posted under Food and Nutrition, more like Urgent Care ..

[Gordon89]

The color starts to turn pale
20 minutes after
color starts to fade.
opens its eyes
I believe it is ok, it is swimming on the water.

[Gordon89]

Wait, it looks like bruises, It had been like two weeks and it didn't changed. I put him in this plastic container with a slanged side. There is a pointy angle between that, do you think I'm hurting it?

[steve]

Not sure what your setup is like or what else is going on, but I think you should take it to the vet as well.

[marisa]

It's interesting that the areas are just around the edge of the shell and nothing in the seam...The carapace looks OK? How abrasive was the surface with the slanted side? Was he moving around a lot in the container trying to get out?

And what do you mean when you say you went to change the water because it (the container?) was nearly empty? Are you keeping your turtle in really shallow water? He's being kept in one of those plastic lagoons, is he?

I looked at some of your previous posts. You said you were "upgrading" to a Rubbermaid container that's 6" X 11.75" X 4.5". This is as good as a deathbowl (lagoon). You cannot expect a turtle to be healthy in a container like that...And members previously have suggested ways to improve your turtle's health and asked you for more info, which you never gave...

I'd ask more about your set-up, but I have a pretty good idea of what it's like. You need to improve it fast.

You said he's been sleeping a lot the past few days...This sounds like something is really be wrong... Take your turtle to a qualified herp vet and do some reading on what kind of habitat and diet he needs (read your previous posts and responses if nothing else).

Where exactly are you located?

[Gordon89]

True, my turtle is trying to climb its way out of the plastic lagoon. I'm going to buy a est. 7gallon glass tank soon.

By the way, I placed the turtle's tank near the window sill, so everymorning the trutle can relax on the sun.

However, the turtle is tilting its head upward everytime with its eye close just for breathing. The breathing process is much longer compare to previous time. I think I might set it off to the pond to heal itself by nature =I

[Gokuh]

Buy a 20 gallon at the very minimum. They are only around 50 dollars canadian at expensive stores. You are putting your turtle into death traps. I had a 10 gallon aquarium for my two turtles and i had to replace it. It just got to dirty even with a filter made for 20 gallons. Now I have a 40 gallon turtle tank with an aquaclear 70 filter. This is much better. My 8 snails, 3 guppies (at last count), and 2 turtles love it.

[fishandcandy]

Do NOT let your sick turtle into a pond to "heal".
A 7 gallon tank is too small and a waste of money. Go buy a big rubbermaid, 20 gallons or more. Save your money until you can afford a really big tank.

[marisa]

It's been over a month and you're still only still planning to upgrade your turtle's tank? (And as you were told, a 7-gallon is far too small.)

Being in front of a window will provide some warmth, but will block out the UVB rays he needs...

It sounds like something else is going on with your turtle from the behavior you described. Putting him in a pond to let nature "heal" him will likely contribute to his demise and could he could infect native turtles, if there are any in it. You need to improve his habitat now.

[TNTurtles]

If your turtle is reaching its head up to breathe with an open mouth it most likely has a respiratory infection. When its swimming is it level? If it also has its eyes closed, that is another sign of an infection. I just recently had a turtle die from this in about a week. I should have taken it to the vet but thought if i just increased the temperature, she would get better. I hope you have better luck with your turtle, but i would recommend you take it to a vet ASAP! Its not fun loosing something you love so much.