Urgent Care :: Off balance

[RES4ever]

How big is your turtle? 5 inches long
How long have you had it? 2 1/2 years

What is the water temperature? 75*
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater?
How much water is in there? yes
Are you using a water conditioner? no
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? don't know
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? half of a bridge looking thing
Is there a UVB light? yes

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

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? large tank
Is the tank near a window? across from
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? not really

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

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? He doesn't seem to swim straight. His right side seems normal and his left seems to want to float upward. What is wrong with him and what can I do for him?

[mikee]

Your turtle has the classic symptoms of RI.( Respiratory Infection) I would suggest a vet visit. I would suggest, also, that you increase the water temp to 80 degrees and basking temperature to 90 to 91 degrees with uvb lighting. Along with that, make sure the water is very clean and circulating. RI is the most common disease that turtles die from. Good Luck!!

[TheComputerGremlin]

Also, if your turtle does have an RI, you should separate him from the others. Otherwise, they will be more prone to getting it also.

[RES4ever]

I've separated him and am trying some antibiotics. He is only slightly off balance and shows no other signs of RI except the fact that he always "croaks" when he breathes. But that is kinda normal for him. We are also raising the temp. How good is the chance that he lives for a long time to come?

[TheComputerGremlin]

If he recovers fully, he should have a normal long turtle life. But it's touch-and-go with RIs. Just keep an eye on him and help him recover completely.

[RES4ever]

Thanks I hope you're right. I hope I can get him through this. Anything else I can do? What type of antibiotics are usually prescribed?

[mikee]

Keep the water at 80 and the basking area at 90 with uvb lighting. Don't take him out of the water unless it is neccessary.

[Bumby's Mom]

I think (but am not positive) that Baytril would be subscribed. You need a vet to tell the appropriate dosage or you can kill the turtle.

[steve]

Has he always been like this or is this a new symptom? Any other symptoms? My male RES occasionally floats a little unevenly, but appears to swims normally.

[marisa]

You said you're trying some antibiotics---what are you trying?

[RES4ever]

steve: He will be resting on the bottom and his side will float up and when he swims he swims at the angle but straight. He doesn't really have any other symptoms. He has always been kinda, i don't know, weird?

marissa: ampicillin.

He has been taking the meds for a couple days now and has one more day of treatment. He has been doing better and seems to want to swim more and not crawl across the bottom.

[marisa]

This is antibiotics for humans? How do you know how much to give???

[RES4ever]

no it is for "aquatic animals" We have also been putting him in a cardboard box with a lamp on him. (We read that somewhere.) and he seems to be doing better/ not at as much of an angle.

[Take-One]

Gald to hear his is okay. You might have saved his life. That is a RI sign

[RES4ever]

Now he is back living happily with his loving family. Speedy and Sandy didn't seem to miss him too much but when he was in seclusion he tried so hard to get out but then we put a glass turtle in the cardboard box with him and he just looked at it like "are you my new friend?." He even climbed on it like he would on Speedy. It was really cute.