Urgent Care :: What is wrong with my Turtles?

[Turtle-Turtle]

I know this could be a rhetorical question...

INFO:
How big is your turtle? About 1.5" each
How long have you had it? Since 6/4/06

What is the water temperature? 78.3-79.3or5
Are you using a water heater? Yes
How much water is in there? 3/4 full in a 10 gallon tank (right now)
Are you using a water conditioner? Yes, reptisafe and Biotize
Are you using any filtration? Yes, Zoomed 501 Carbon, ceramic, and mechanical filter

What is the basking temperature? fluctuates between 87 and 90
Is there a basking light? Yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes
Is there a UVB light? Yes, just started using it yesterday, though

What have you been trying to feed it? Zoomed hatchling pellets
When was the last time your turtle ate?

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure?
Is the tank near a window? No
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? Low to medium activity

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

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms?

The turtles just lay on their dock all day with their eyes closed and don't swim at all. I put them in teh water to rehydrate and they will swim for a minute or two with their eyes closed... I put zoomed eyedrops in their eyes yesterday and took them outside. Both began wiping their eyes and finally opened them. One turtle started acting normal while he was outside with me for about 3-4 hours. The other was about 75% normal with one eye about 1/4-1/2 open. I am continuing to treat them as per the directions but when I put them back int eh cage they won't do anything but sit on their dock.

I know it isn't the water because I just changed it totally yesterday and treaded the water with biotize waste degrader and reptisafe.

[sonyj]

Ok, I'm not sure I understand what you're asking. You didn't list any symptoms or unusual activity. What is your turtle doing to make you think something is wrong?

[Turtle-Turtle]

Ok, I'm not sure I understand what you're asking. You didn't list any symptoms or unusual activity. What is your turtle doing to make you think something is wrong?

Sorry, I hit enter and it posted before I was done. I have edited it now.

[missibsu]

Have they been sleeping on the dock the whole time since you got them, or since you have gotten the basking dock and heat/uvb lights? Could it just be that they are happy to have a basking area (compared to where they came from), and they are enjoying their new set up?

Do you notice any other signs that could lead you to worry? Open mouth breathing, wheezing, mucus, runny eyes?

[Turtle-Turtle]

One breathes with an open mouth sometimes and then he will go for hours without doing so...

Both have the "closed eye syndrome" and it seams like they are having a hard time opening their eyes at first. After I put the drops in thier eyes yesterday and took them outside for about 4-5 hours. Turtle one, "Sparky", wiped his eyes several times and then went back tothe way he was when I got him. Turtle two, "Morla", was less active and finally opened one eye to appear normal. The second eye was about 1/4 of the way open.

Hopefully it is just that they like there new house but they never seem to swim (while I am home).

When I first put them in the 10 gal tank from the little travel cage they acted crazy and swam all the time unless they were stretched out basking. Now they just seem to sleep on the dock all the time.

[missibsu]

Usually it's the other way around, people don't see their turts bask when they are around. Keep an eye on them. You can eaise the temp to about 82 (no higher) to give the immune system a boost. If they are sick, I wouldn't continue to take them outside. It can add to the stress level, and the differece in temps can't help either.

[marisa]

You've had them for less than two weeks, it's possible that something was going on with them when you got them. The eyes were normal when you got them? Look at the eyes---are they swollen? Are they "weepy?"

Are the turtles eating? (you didn't indicate whether they were in your info.)

Raise the water temp to 81-82F, raise the basking area temp a tad to 91-92F. Keep them out of drafts/breezes (are you using AC?).

There are no other symptoms? (Your description of the open-mouth breathing doesn't really tell me much.)

[Turtle-Turtle]

You've had them for less than two weeks, it's possible that something was going on with them when you got them. The eyes were normal when you got them? Look at the eyes---are they swollen? Are they "weepy?"

Are the turtles eating? (you didn't indicate whether they were in your info.)

Raise the water temp to 81-82F, raise the basking area temp a tad to 91-92F. Keep them out of drafts/breezes (are you using AC?).

There are no other symptoms? (Your description of the open-mouth breathing doesn't really tell me much.)

The eyes were open when I got them and were open until probably Monday or Tuesday. They are not weepy. Maybe just a bit puffy and I am not sure about this one...Are there eyelids typically a whitish color?

I have seen one turtle eat up until probably Tuesday and the other turtle I have not seen eat for a while but I usually feed them before I go to work in the morning and I am not home for 8 hours.

I will raise the water temp to about 81 or so and yes, we run AC all the time but it is central air across the room that is semi blocked by a computer stand. I have closed the vent off about halfway.

The symptoms are more behavioral changes than symptons. They used to be really active but in teh past week they have gone to totally sedintary and laying on the basking dock all the time, Unless I take them outside and then they seem to wake up and start exploring. One opens his eyes and the other only opens one with the left one being only about 1/4 of the way open. The second is the one that I have noticed is breathing through his mouth sometimes, not all the time though.

[marisa]

Behavioral changes are often symptoms in themselves...

The lids on my RES appear a little paler than the surrounding skin, am not sure how much a bit puffy is...

What is the temp of the room they're in? I really would be careful with the AC (did you recently start using it?)---it also dries the eyes, and can lead to problems/rubbing. I'd try to keep the ambient air in the tank warmer than the room temp, even if this means blocking off their tank from the AC.

[Turtle-Turtle]

Behavioral changes are often symptoms in themselves...

The lids on my RES appear a little paler than the surrounding skin, am not sure how much a bit puffy is...

What is the temp of the room they're in? I really would be careful with the AC (did you recently start using it?)---it also dries the eyes, and can lead to problems/rubbing. I'd try to keep the ambient air in the tank warmer than the room temp, even if this means blocking off their tank from the AC.

"a bit puffy" means that they might be puffed out about 1/2mm. I am new to this and don't really know what is normal and what is not. I don't have a control to look at to determine if they have problems or how far they are puffed out.

There is no way I can shut the air off to our house. I will have to cover the tank. Our ambient air temp in the house ranges from 74-76 degrees. If we feel hot we will turn it to 75 or 74 and if we feel cool we will turn it up to 76.