Urgent Care :: new hatchlings; excesive basking

[shady1616]

I went to the pet store yesterday because my little sister and my little brother wanted turtles of their own and I agreed to take care of them. I bought everything for them except the tank. I have them in my ten gallon tank for now to seperate them from Shady and Scooby incase they have deseases. I know its a little small but its just for 90 days, then I'm going to put them in my pond. I bought a heater, uv bulb, thermometer, filter, and a new basking ramp.

One of them is called Sunny because he basks ALOT! Since yesterday night when I brought him home, he's just been basking and I know that's not normal. The second one my 5 year old brother named Bubbles. He basks less than Sunny but most of the time he basks and sometimes he goes in the water. They are only 1'' long and the water temp. is 78deg. The water is about 3/4 full and I have the Wisper 20i in the tank.

please help me...

[marisa]

But what specifically do you want information about??? If he's basking excessively, it's possible he could be ill. Are his eyes clear? Is he alert?

What's the water temp and the basking area temp?

[shady1616]

his eyes are clear. I saw him yawn once last night and he closes his eyes when he's basking. He swims fine when I put him in the water but he goes back to the ramp and The water temp. is exactly 78deg. I would say the basking temp. is 85-90deg. how do you check the basking temp.?
I want to make sure he's not sick.

[flutterby]

How are they eating?

[marisa]

Put a thermometer under the basking light (you can be even more accurate if you put the thermometer on an object the height of your turtle) and leave it there for about 20 min. Then check the temp.

Does he have any other symptoms--any wheezing, open-mouth breathing when he's out of the water, refusing to eat, for example? If not, keep your eyes open for other symptoms (also if his eyes get swollen or he starts acting lethargic) in case he's in an early stage of an RI. Let us know how he's doing.

[shady1616]

Sunny is a big eater but now he started to bask a little bit less. Bubbles is basking a lot now and there seems to be some trouble with his swimming. I took them out to the pond to get some sunlight and to introduce them into the pond but I noticed that Bubbles was swimming unusually. He was struggling and I put him back on the rocks and he started walking unusual too. Bubble's isn't eating yet but sunny eats whatever I feed him, which is pretty wierd. Bubbles keeps his back legs together and can't walk straight. Maybe it's a bone problem, but he won't eat any thing I give him, so he won't eat any cuttlebone that I put in the tank or the cuddlebone covered pellets.
His eyes are a little swollen but he opens them fine.
What's lethargic??

[shady1616]

um... I just got some bad news from my dad...
he said he refuses taking them to the vet because he rather buy a new turtle.

I'll try my best to save Bubbles if he's sick.

[shady1616]

I'm taking the baskig temp. now, but now Bubbles is not moving at all!!!! I put him in the water and he was just floating!!! Now I have him in my little feeding container offering him some food.

I'm soooooo worried right now and I'm about to cry. I'm so sorry you guys about my dad refusing to take him to the vet. I just need some advice right now!!! please, any advice could probably save this little guys life

[cam722]

Keep him warm.. up the water temp and keep him away from all your other turtles just in case he is sick. I'm not sure whatelse to do as I've never had a sick turtle.. sorry I can't help more.

[shady1616]

thanks for the reply. He's in his feeding container, and the water temp. is 78.
Is that ok?
He started swimming into the walls like he wants to come out. I'm so relieved that he's moving and active but he still won't eat.
Should I put him to bask or should I keep him in the water where he's awake?
The basking temp. is 90 deg.

[cam722]

I've read on here a number of times that you should turn the temp up to 80 with sick turtles to help them fight off illness... its not a cure all but it may help. At this point I think he may need his own setup for awhile. Do you have enough for his own setup.. basking area, UVB/heat bulb? etc?

[JessicaTS]

Heat fights off infections in sick turtles. Keep trying to feed them for a week. If they won't after a week, you may want to force feed them which is dangerous and considered a last resort.
Keep us updated

[shady1616]

I could put Sunny in the pond and just leave Bubbles in the tank by himself. Do you think I should raise the water temp. to 80?

[JessicaTS]

If Sunny is only an inch big, it is not a good idea to put him in a pond. Can you get your hands on a rubbermaid container? Cheap and safe.
And yes, raise the temp to 80

[marisa]

Lethargic means he's acting sluggish, he's not active and just wants to sleep.

Since they're so small, I'd keep Sunny in the tank and get something else for Bubbles (he needs his own container). The swollen eyes and some of the behavior you described (trouble swimming, etc.) sound like a potential problem. I'd bump up the temp a bit more for Bubbles (81-82F) for a while and have the basking area 90-91F. And I wouldn't have the water that deep--so he can swim and move about, but not high.

I'd put him in the water and let him decide when he wants to bask (he can get on the basking area easily?)

You're feeding in a separate container of water? Can you get some liquid vitamins (for babies or for birds)? Squirt some in the feeding water so if he drinks he'll get some of it. He won't be interested in cuttlebone if he's sick (and he might not have figured out what it's for). If he won't eat the pellets, try something smelly--bits of sardine or tuna in water, bits of hard-boiled egg whites, boiled white chicken meat, etc. You could even put a little of the vitamins on a piece (don't over do it) and give it to him, just to get him eating.