Urgent Care :: BABY TURTLE TROUBLE!

[2slidernyc]

my baby turtle has been fine for 3 months now and all of a sudden he's not eating from what I've seen and is now basking a lot and what appears to be a twitch that looks like a dry heave sometimes he makes a sound when he does it..

What should I do?

[octpusgirl8]

It sounds like he could have a resiratory infection. Do a search for RI and see if it sounds like what's going on with your baby. If it is RI you'll need to get him to a vet ASAP.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Whether he has an RI or not, you want to get him eating again. Make sure your water temp is near 80 degrees since he's sick, and you can feed him what we normally consider treats, like pieces of tuna or salmon, boiled chicken, or boiled egg whites. If he is basking too much or refusing to get in the water, make sure you put him in the water occasionally to rehydrate.

Can you answer the urgent care questions for us? http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2142

[marisa]

Is he gaping /yawning frequently? If so, it sounds like he's got an RI. How do his eyes look?

The weather is getting cooler now and if you don't have one, you need to get a submersible water heater for the tank. Set it at 82F since your turtle is ill---the added warmth will boost his immune system and encourage him to eat. What's the temp of the basking area?

Keep trying to get him to eat. A vet visit is always a good idea.