Urgent Care :: My first problem

[Turtle_Turtle]

well i never thought i would have to post here but i think there is something wrong with one of my turtles. He has lost his appetite and he literally basks all day because before he was a vaccum cleaner with the pellets now he lets squirt eat its share except for about 5 pellets

How big is your turtle? about 4in
How long have you had it? almost a year

What is the water temperature? 79
Did you use a thermometer? no
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? about 3/4 full of a 60gal
Are you using a water conditioner? yes
Are you using any filtration? yes rena xp3

What is the basking temperature? idk
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? zoo med turtle dock
Is there a UVB light? yes

What have you been trying to feed it? reptomin
When was the last time your turtle ate? last night

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 60gal
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? no

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? loss of appetite and not active

but im wondering if i need to take him to the vet or not but this has been happening for about a week. And just a side note this is what i noticed about my other turtle before it died

[marisa]

Loss of appetite and lethargy in a previously active turtle mean something is going on. There are no other symptoms that would indicate an RI? What do his eyes look like?

Has he been exposed to any drafts or breezes? Is he in the same tank with other turtles? I'd separate him and boost the temps a bit, 81-82F for water and about 10 degrees higher for the basking area----you really need to find out what the basking area temp is for the tank he's in currently, too.

If you do this, and you don't see any improvement in a day or two, taking him for a check-up would be a wise thing to do.

[Turtle_Turtle]

well i dont see anything wrong with his eyes but here are some pics. also i cant put the other turtle in another tank because i dont have any other supplies only a heater and a 20gal tank

[SpotsMama]

His eyes don't look bad. They could be a little irritated looking.

If it were my turtle I'd be looking for a vet. It may be something inconsequential but like Marisa said, loss of appetite and lethargy mean something's going on. I've observed that when a turtle has an RI, the earlier on it's treated the better the chances are. If your guys symptoms are early RI, then the sooner he can get antibiotics the better off he'll be. More harm is done by delaying, in my opinion.

By the way, a 20 gallon tank for two growing turtles really is much too small. How about looking for a rubbermaid container for temporary housing for the healthy turtle while the sick one gets the tank where you can regulate the temperature? In the long run you'll need much more space for them. Rubbermaids are very inexpensive and make good long term homes too. Of course, there's lighting, heating and filters also to consider which run up the tab.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

[Turtle_Turtle]

thats what im thinking myself but i will try and get my mom to make an appointment thanks for the info and i will make sure i keep you guys posted

and also they arent in a 20gal there they are in a 60gal and in the future which is sometime in the beginning of next year my dad and I are building a (hopefully 500gal) pond for them. Also i cant really buy anything for them right now because i am still paying off there tank

[Turtle_Turtle]

well still cant get an appointment my mom says until the dogs get theres and still she doesnt think anythings wrong but today or tommorow i am going to be building them an above tank basking area

[grey goose]

How can you say the water temp is 79 if you don't have a thermometer? Double check the basking and water temps with a good (digital) thermometer..........Eyes look good to me, any gaping, open mouth breathing, excessive yawning?
Constant basking and eating less spells trouble.....it could be a "seasonal thing" (SAD) but I'd get Him to the vet ASAP....maybe bring him in with the dogs? (Package deal? ).

[Turtle_Turtle]

the reason i know is that i set my temp to that and i trust my heater. i dont have a thermometer but i can get one tommorow.nothing really on the mouth breathing or excessive yawning.And i cant take my turtle with me with the dogs because they go to different vets that dont know a thing about reptiles

also splash looks like he is doing better i think i just might have been a little worried, but he is swimming more

[marisa]

Some heaters are more accurate than others, some even say the temps can vary somewhat. Checking it against a good thermometer would be a wise thing to do.