Urgent Care :: Turtle can't swim just sinks to the bottom

[awatson88]

How big is your turtle? 5-6 inches
How long have you had it? under 24 hours

What is the water temperature? 76-78
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? yes 300 watt
How much water is in there? 55 gallons
Are you using a water conditioner? yes
Are you using any filtration? yes fluval fx5

What is the basking temperature? around 100
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? plastic
Is there a UVB light? yes

What have you been trying to feed it? reptomin
When was the last time your turtle ate? not sure

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 55 gallons
Is the tank near a window? yes but there is a monster shade blocking the window
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? nope

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

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms

Today I just picked up three turtles from a lady that didn't want them. Two are 5-6 inches and other is 8 inches. I know that my 55 gallon is way too small but it's an upgrade from their 30 gallon and I am trying to give away two of them to good parents asap. I put all three of them into the tank around 4:00 today. They were all a little scared in the beginning which is understandable but one stood out from the beginning. He kept pushing off the bottom rocks and would just fall over onto his back. He didn't really do much as all just sat there upside down until I thought he was dead and poked him and he moved a little. I went to dinner and came back home and found him sort of pinned between a castle and the window, but he is big enough to easily move if he had too. I poked him and he wasn't moving until I took him out of the water and he then seemed to move a little. It seems like he can't swim and can't get to the top to breath and get air. So I have put him in a shoe box type rubbermaid for the night. It looks like his time is winding down. What could be a problem and how can I help it?

[SpotsMama]

He may be sick and weak. If he is so badly off he can't swim, then you did right to take him out of the water. Keep him warm and quiet and see how he is in the morning. I don't have a clue what's wrong yet - if he's still having problems tomorrow maybe you can give more info and we'll help you decide what to do.

One thing that makes a turtle seem lethargic is temps that are too cool. Since the other two turtles are acting ok, then that's probably not the case with the third turtle.

Another thing that can happen is that when a turtle has lived in shallow water for a long time, they seem to forget how to swim. When that happens, the best thing is to let them get accustomed to deep water very gradually. Start them in shallow water and raise the level an inch every couple of days.

You've got quite a bunch of turtles to care for all of a sudden. Have you had a chance to read up on turtle keeping on this site yet?

[awatson88]

Yes I have. I have a baby RES too that was born last spring. He is in a different tank but because of him I have read about everything. What other information should I give to help everyone understand what is going on?

Thanks,
Andrew Watson

[SpotsMama]

Some questions would be: did his previous owner notice anything odd about his behavior or appetite, any sign of swollen or irritated eyes, breathing with his mouth open or frequent yawning, do skin and shell look healthy, can you tell if he's pooping normally?

I wish you all the luck in the world. You're very brave to be trying to help these poor turtles.

[steve]

I'm interested in how he reacts on land and how is his coordination, like when trying to take food... does he miss? With poor swimming, regardless of the cause, I would take him out and dry dock for a few days since there is a significant risk of drowning. You can rehydrate and feed him every few hours under supervision.