Urgent Care :: Turtle with RI: URGENT!!!!

[Zepher30]

Alright my turtle has a RI. At first, i would drop him in the water and he would sink almost not at all, and then float right back to the top. I dry docked him, have been giving him saltwater baths 2-3 daily for 15 mins, and trying to get him to eat with tuna and tuna soaked pellets.

So far I havent seen him eat anything, but he seems to be breathing from the mouth less frequently, and when i dropped him in the water just now, he sank maybe an half of an inch or an inch and swam away, without floating to the top.

Just wanted to know if that inch means hes improving at all, and what ratio of Pedialyte to water should i use to bathe him in?

thanks.

[steve]

How big is he and how long have you had him?

[Zepher30]

He's about 1.5 or 2 inches, and I've had him for about 3 months

[Zepher30]

Good news! Hes eating pellets AND when I drop him in the tank, he doesnt float, he sinks at least half of the water depth, I think hes getting better!

[Turtle Mummy 101]

Brilliant!! It definitely sounds like he's on the mend
Keep us updated.

[Zepher30]

Uuuh, Now hes up on his basking rock, taking deeper breathes than ive ever seen, and Floating for the most part when i drop him in...

[steve]

Does he feel light to you? Is he still eating and how much?

[Zepher30]

He ate a couple of pellets yesterday, and he's so small he always feels light to me.

[Zepher30]

Alright, so he ate probably three or four pellets today, i gave him a pedialyte bath, he still floats for the most part when i drop him in the tank, BUT he is able to swim halfway down the tank by himself, he spends a lot of time clinging on the the basking dock while still in the water, and clinging on the the fake plants, or the collard green leaf in the tank... so I really dont know what to make of him

[munkly]

zepher ... u nd i hv same probs ... my turtle did exact same stuff as yrs :S ... nd im helpless also dnt hv any idea wt to do since cant take turtle to vet here since in my country there r no turtle vets :S

[Zepher30]

UPDATE:

The turtle still floats, he seems to bask normally, and he seems to be breathing through his nose again, i havent seen him breathe through his mouth now in 2 or more days, although he could still be doing it, just when im not around.... He ate 3 baby pellets tonight (which, sinces he's about 1.5 inches, is probably the size of his head anyway)...

So I don't know if hes getting better, because he still floats on top, but he can get under the water if he swims down there, but he is eating and seemingly not mouth breathing... anyone have an experience like this?

[steve]

Eating is good, how is he doing?

[Zepher30]

Still eating a pellet or three when i feed him, but last night i noticed some mouth breathing.... but not as violent looking as it used to be... before he used to stick is neck out ALL the way and open his mouth super wide... now its a little bit of neck and a cracked mouth for breathing

[munkly]

zepher i hv exact same thing ... my turtle also eatin few pellets only nd doesnt eat anything else ... nd sometimes he breath frm nose but i monitor her all the time nd i still see her mouth breathin .... its just tht sometimes its too much sometimes a lil less then usual ... i gave her lettuce but she never ate it gave her bloodworms still didnt ate`em ... nd she floats as well ...

[Zepher30]

Update: Hes breathing heavier, as in sticking his neck out all the way and huge mouth breathing, he eats on occasion, but he is REALLY light, and his little legs seem really skinny, and he still only floats and clings to the dock, or spends his time basking.... I fear his time is comming to a close unless someone has some suggestions!