Urgent Care :: new turtle, not eating and very inactive

[adrienne]

So I bought my RES from our local flea market about 5 days ago. He provided no information on how to care for the turtle and we bought him because he was the most active of the bunch. He provided us with a small cage and told us to feed him everyday (pellet). After doing more homework we bought him a larger tank and a heating lamp with an ideal basking area, but this was all done 5 days after buying him. He has not eaten since we bought him and is now very inactive. Tank is now properly set up and he is currently in the basking area but is still quite inactive. Any suggestions on how to encourage him to eat and swim, advice much appreciated, I wanna give this little guy a fighting chance.

[jozzep]

I didn't read anything about a water heater....
If you don't have one.buy one.Make sure the water temp is 76-78 degrees.

[steve]

I'd try the items here www.redearslider.com/entice_eating.html and www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17486

[adrienne]

I have the pellets and I have a florescent lamp in there and it keeps the water temp between 75-78deg f and as well I have some meal worm in there. Since it has been 5 days since he has had a proper environment, would the best thing be to just let him be and hope he turns around? I may buy some guppies but he is only about 2inches long, hoping they are not too big for him.

[marisa]

Florescent lights don't really give off heat (why you need a heat source in addition to a florescent UVB light), so I'd be surprised if your florescent lamp is heating the water at all. I'd recheck the water and basking area temps. It would be good to have a water heater if it's not summer where you are (and the room he's in isn't really warm, which it sounds like it's not).

BTW, if it is warm where you are, does the room your turtle is in have AC? If so, make sure he's not in the line of any drafts or vents.

[adrienne]

he has a heating lamp and as well the water does have a water heater. As well, he has a cover on his tank so the temperature of 77degree is maintained in the water and 84degree is maintained in his basking area. I just noticed though that his eyes are swollen shut so I believe this is due to not being in a proper environment for a few days. Will swollen eyes go away if there is proper heating and the water is clean or should I be doing more to help him out because he needs to eat

[marisa]

It depends on what the cause is.

If it's due to a vit A deficiency, applying some plain cod liver oil to the eyelids with a q-tip once or twice a day for several days, should help.

If it's an infection (less likely since both of the eyes are involved), clean water and a good habitat will help.

If it's a respiratory infection (swollen, closed eyes is one of the symptoms, especially in the earlier stages), increased warmth (water at 82F, basking area around 90F) would help him fight the infection. In many cases, though, a herp vet's assistance is needed.

I'd start by raising the water and basking area temps. (And know of a good herp vet to take him to if he doesn't respond). It could even be a combination of the above.

Since he can't see to eat, you could try holding something smelly in front of his nose in the water (a bit of tuna, sardine, for example) so he can smell it and hopefully take a bite.

You never did say whether there's AC in his room...

[adrienne]

Oh yes there is a vent that is beside the tank but there is a lid on the tank so I do not believe it has much effect because the tank temperature remains even. I have good news though, today he began swimming and his eyes were open so definitely a turn around. Still not eating though so I will definitely try offering him something like tuna. I'll keep a post on how he's doing