Urgent Care :: floating RES URGENT!!!

[splatypus]

my sixx month old RES is floating i bought him in california at a asian market
he seemed fine but now hes not alert. sleeping alot, floating, and if i put him in the water upside down he still doesnt move and he doesnt eat

hes in a 10 gallon tank with 3 other perfectly fine turtles and a few fish is that too small of a enclosure?
plz help
how can i cure this?

[tammi]

The tank is way too small. Sounds like you may need to seek a vets help.

[marisa]

He was OK when you first got him? How long have you had him?

What are the temps of the water and basking area? Does the room he's in have AC? If so, could he have gotten a draft?

Don't put him in the water "upside down"---he could drown.

I'd separate him and give him his own set-up; what he's got is likely contagious, and that many turtles in a 10-gallon tank is way too much anyway. Keep him warm, water temp 80-82F and the basking area around 90F and keep him out of any cool drafts or breezes. Don't make the water very deep (but a little deeper than the length of his shell).

Try to get him to eat---hold a bit of something smelly in front of his nose in the water and see if he responds at all. it would be good to look for a herp vet while you're doing this in case the added warmth doesn't help and he still refuses to eat.

[splatypus]

yes it was ok when i got him i had him for 6 months or more i do not know the temps of the basking area and water
i dont have a thermometer yet
i only put him upside down for 2 seconds or less
how do u keep the water that warm?
and what is the normal basking and water temp?
and my house is full of drafty places and i dont think i have enough tanks for the turtle or fish
or lights i have 1 of those small little plastic tanks does that work?
and the turtle foams at the mouth foams like bubbles
and what is smelly to a turtle?
im a very newbie turtle keeper

[tammi]

If he is foaming at the mouth I'd say repitory infection. Need a vet to treat. And its contagious so seperate from other turtle.
You keep the water warm with a submersible water heater.

[megcornell]

Splatypus- Your turtle sounds like it has a respiratory infection from poor conditions. He'll need to see a vet to get antibiotics. These infections are pretty contagious so it's likely your other turtles will get ill as well.

Your set up is MUCH too small for four turtles. Each inch of turtle needs 10 gallons of space. If you can't provide that, you might want to consider rehoming some of your turtles so you can provide the ones you have with a better environment.

[splatypus]

oh thats bad ok
i can probaly provide that i just might not have the room but ill see wat i can do thanks for the help

[splatypus]

is there any type of special turtle tank?

[tammi]

Any fish tank will work.

[splatypus]

oh ok thannks
o was just wondering if there was a wider tank of some sort

[splatypus]

do turtles grow to there tank size ?
like fish?

[steve]

hes in a 10 gallon tank with 3 other perfectly fine turtles and a few fish is that too small of a enclosure?
yes

i dont have a thermometer yet
please go buy some, they are not expensive

i only put him upside down for 2 seconds or less
don't do that. excessive handling can be stressful.

how do u keep the water that warm?
usually a good submersible water heater

and my house is full of drafty places and i dont think i have enough tanks for the turtle or fish
you will have to see if you are actually capable of caring for multiple turtles

or lights i have 1 of those small little plastic tanks does that work?
Basking turtles like RES require special lighting

and the turtle foams at the mouth foams like bubbles
defintely sounds like an illness. should be isolated from the other turtles

and what is smelly to a turtle?
tuna, blood worms live prey also get their attention

is there any type of special turtle tank?
yes, but they are a waste of money. looking into storage containers, like rubbermaid or sterlite

do turtles grow to there tank size ?
no

[splatypus]

oh ok thanks