Urgent Care :: lopsided swimming

[REStless]

How big is your turtle? about 1 3/4"
How long have you had it? 3 months

What is the water temperature? 75 degrees
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? no
How much water is in there? 60 gl
Are you using a water conditioner? yes
Are you using any filtration? yes 120 gl canister filter

What is the basking temperature? 83 degrees
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? driftwood
Is there a UVB light? yes

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

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 70 gl
Is the tank near a window? yes
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? medium amount of activity

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

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? RI symptoms - lopsided swimming, reduced appetite

Okay, so today I noticed one of my turts swimming lopsided. There is no mucous present around the mouth, eyes or nose, he is eating daily but not as much as usual (change in seasons?) no problem submerging and is still very active. I handled him today for an inspection and didn't hear any
hissing or wheezing. He doesn't seem to bask any more than normal and is still skiddish the moment he notices me and slides off the basking area like normal.

I fear this may be the early signs of RI but am confused as to how the condition developed. Nothing has changed except for maybe a slight reduction of temp, due to the changing of seasons. I live in LA, CA so don't use a heater as the water temp stays between 70 and 80.

I've quarantined him from the other turt to prevent cross-contamination and have him in a plastic rubbermaid container dry docked with direct sunlight exposure. Is there anything else that I could be doing for him? I'm gonna observe him for a couple days and see if he gets any better before taking him to the vet.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

[SpotsMama]

When a turtle has RI and swims lopsided, it's because one lung is filled with fluid.

Another thing that can cause unusual swimming posture is gas in the gut. Usually this manifests as swimming with the rear end abnormally high but I suppose, depending on where a gas bubble is, it could make a turtle list to one side. Sometimes an intestinal gas bubble is nothing to worry about and it passes but sometimes it's a sign of an intestinal problem.

Check your guy tomorrow and see how he's doing. As you know, swimming lopsided is a typical sign of RI, as is poor appetite. If you're not happy with how he's swimming or behaving tomorrow, best risk erring on the side of caution and call that vet. In the meantime, keep him separated from his companion, warm, very clean, avoid stress and make sure he gets plenty to eat.

It's not necessary to dry dock him, however. Dry docking is stressful and only necessary when a turtle is severly ill, injured or has a shell infection.

[marisa]

That's a rather large temp range for the water, especially if the temp is moving up and down constantly. If it is getting cooler where you are, I'd put a submersible water heater in the tank to keep the water temp steady. Set it at 78F for now, if you see other symptoms that would indicate an RI, up it to 82F. The basking area temp is a little low, especially if the water temp reaches the high 70's or more. A basking area temp in the range of 88-90F would be better.

See if the added warmth doesn't help him. Watch out for other symptoms that would indicate the need to see a herp vet.

[SpotsMama]

You seem to know already....but just in case you're not aware of all the symptoms of RI, here are the typical ones: lethargy, poor or no appetite, swollen or irritated eyes, frequent yawning or breathing with the mouth open, wheezing or noisy breathing, swimming lopsided or difficulty submerging, and mucus around the nose or mouth. A sick turtle won't show all these symptoms, especially in the early stages but if several are present, then it's best to get to a vet. Early and aggressive treatment gives a turtle the best chance when he/she has RI.

Just a caution - if you wind up at the vet's, don't let him/her give a vitamin a shot unless he/she's very sure it's necessary. Lots of turtles have had bad reactions to them and in most cases if there is a vitamin a shortage, cod liver oil or food containing vitamin a is sufficient. I mention this because some vets seem to give vitamin a shots as a matter of routine.

[REStless]

The tank is kept by a window in the living room so dependent upon the time of day, the water temp fluctuates. If I come home for lunch and look in the tank it stays around 75 - 80 then at night usually drops to around the low 70's . I went and bought a submersible heater last night to keep the temp steady. I have a 60 W basking bulb but now that the waer remp has been increased I will up the basking bulb to 100 W to raise the basking temp.

The turt is still very active and when I fed him today, he ate like he was starving. Still no mucous around his nose, mouth or eyes and in comparison to his tankmate, his eyes are still relatively clear. I am hoping that this is just gas as he did not deuce after feeding today but this raises another issue as to how or why he is having gas that he is unable to pass.

He is still swimming lopsided to the same side. It doesn't seem to be affecting him as of right now so I'm just keeping a watchful eye for any of the RI symptoms to develop.

On that note, what is the proper course of action for the treatment of gas? I have yet to call the vet, I feed them hatchling formula pellets fortified with all the necessary vitamins. Nothing I have seen yet tells me that he is Vit deficient.

Any suggestions on the treatment of gas?

[TupacTheTurle]

idk about the gas treatment but i picked up some pellets at Petsmart that were medicated (anti-bacterial maybe anti-infection) and they worked nicely for Jules's eyes when they were puffy, but i was also putting cod liver oil on them.

[REStless]

thanks for the heads up. I actually saw some of those last night when I picked up the hater but wasn't sure of them. What brand did you get? I am kinda weary about buying things for just what they say on the label, if you have tried them and they worked then I will give them a shot. Even if it isn't a bacterial infection, it wouldn't hurt to give them a good cleaning from the inside out.

[REStless]

thanks for the heads up. I actually saw some of those last night when I picked up the hater but wasn't sure of them. What brand did you get? I am kinda weary about buying things for just what they say on the label, if you have tried them and they worked then I will give them a shot. Even if it isn't a bacterial infection, it wouldn't hurt to give them a good cleaning from the inside out.

[TupacTheTurle]

there were in a white bottle (looks like a BIG pill bottle) and there were two different kinds...im at school right now so i dont know the exact name but ill check as soon as i get home....idk if your petsmart is set up the same way but they were about 2 shelves below the Repto-min.

[TupacTheTurle]

There Reptile Xtra Anti-Bacteria Pellets.

[robind]

I've used the anti-bacterial pellets with great success. For the longest time my female had swollen eyes, and nothing (even vitamin A supplements) would help. But the anti-bacterial (forget the brand name) pellets worked within the first couple weeks.

[TurtleLover_S&B]

I've heard that if they have fluid in their lungs then you put their head facing toward the ground and open their mouths,and let the fluid drain out.I don't know if that's what you're suppose to do,but that's just what I've heard.

[REStless]

I'm gonna go and pick some of those up and give them a good clean.

Situation update: turtle is still very active, it seems that he is still swimming lopsided although, not as much as he was in the days past. I am wondering if it was the beginning of an RI and the steady and warmer temps may have halted it or atleast slowed it's development. On that note, I noticed that when my turt is out of the water and breathing, I can see his breath in his neck or throat each time he takes a breath. Anyone know what that is or do your turtles do that also? I have never noticed it before and don't notice it in the other turtle.

Thanks again for all the feedback, it's greatly appreciated.

[steve]

It could just be a result from greater activity. I'm not sure about the effectiveness of medicated pellets or anything of that nature.

[marisa]

If it is the beginning of an RI, warmer temps can help arrest it in that they boost the immune system, helping the turtle to fight the illness.

As for the breathing does it kind of look like what a bullfrog would do (puffing up the throat)? If so, and if he's doing it with his mouth closed, it sounds normal. Mine does it sometimes as well. It aids in smelling.