Urgent Care :: Turtle sick?

[rancho]

Hi,

I got 2 new RES two weeks ago. It came in one of those plastic containers where the water is supposed to be an inch high. I've been changing the water daily and taking them out when feeding them. Will be getting a tank and setting up a proper habitat ASAP--most likely Monday.

I think one of them might be sick. It's not as active as it's used to be. It's always up on the basking area sleeping. It's eating just fine. When she's in the water, one or both of her legs is always outstretched and I think she's swimming kind of lopsided.

If I look it up on the Internet, the nearest vet is 2-3 hours away and it's not even a vet that specializes with reptiles.

The other turtle is just fine. She's active, she's basking and eating.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[sonyj]

It is impossible to maintain the correct temps and healthy environment that they need in a 'death bowl'. If the water temp is too low, it can lead to lethargy and eventually illness especially in younger turtles. It sounds like the little one needs to be seen by a vet asap but also needs the correct habitat to help it get better as well.

If you can get a tank or other suitable container set up sooner with a heater, basking area, UVB bulb, Heat bulb, filter, and other necessities, it would be best. Large Rubbermaid containers make excellent temporary habitats.

Remember when purchasing your equipment that the recommended tank size is ten gallons per inch of turtle (shell from tip to tip not including curve) and that multiplies for each turtle in the set-up. The larger you go now the more money you will save on upgrades later on.

[kayla_2305]

my turtle is doing the same thing sleeps all day and when she does swim she is lop sided if you find anything out about urs will you email me or something and let me know what was wrong with it thanks rancho!!~Kayla

[marisa]

kayla, it sounds like your turtle may have a respiratory infection/pneumonia. Consider taking him to a herp vet.

[rancho]

Thanks marisa.

I would love to get a tank sooner, but it isn't possible to get it before Monday as the aquarium is an hours drive and a 2 hours transit. I can't imagine carrying a 20 gallon glass tank back downtown.

Is there a kind of light that has a combination of UVB and UVA lights? How often should I keep them on?

One more thing. The turtles' been in their little tub for 2 weeks now. Is it okay to just throw them in the deep end (2/3 of the tank) like that?

I will be contacting that animals clinic that I was talking about earlier. How would I transport the turtle?

Thanks!

[sonyj]

Mercury Vapor bulbs provide both heat and UVB rays but they are recommended only for tanks over 50 gallons due to the high amount of heat they produce.

Your lights should follow a day/night cycle and be on for around 12 hours per day. Some lengthen the time a little in the summer and shorten it in the winter to follow the natural light of the sun. I highly recommend getting a timer for the lights so you do not have to worry about turning them on or off on time. I don't know what I'd do without mine.

Turtles are natural swimmers and should be fine in deep water as long as they are healthy. Be sure to have some fake plants of different heights for them to rest on and hide in.

If you need to transport the turtle to the vet/clinic, you can use a cardboard box or smaller Rubbermaid/ plastic container. Never transport them in water. Have some soft clothes in there for him to burrow under. If it's dark, he will most likely sleep the whole way.

[missibsu]

There is a list of recommended herp vets at the top of this section of the forum. See if you can find someone on that list...even if it means you have to drive a little further.

[reptilegrrl]

Rancho, you can hit a big box dicsount store and get a large plastic storage bin. These are inexpensive, more portable than a glass tank, and less fragile. They make good turtle homes! A few more days in poor conditions could kill your turtle.