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Baby RES floats, won't eat, not very active HELP!!!

Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:27 pm
by LCKing919
My baby RES is about the size of a half dollar coin. It has been acting really strange lately. Firstly, it will not eat. When I give him food, he pays no attention to it whatsoever. He does not swim below the surface. I don't think he can. When he floats, he floats sort of lopsided. But he doesn't go in the water much, usually just basks. Sometimes I see little bubbles come out of his nose. Sometimes when he is basking, he will start to stick his head and front legs out and then pull them back in. Not sure if that is a symptom of anything or what it means.
10 gallon tank
Water temp is about 75 F
Not sure of basking temp, but I do have a heat lamp over it so it should be ok
I've tried feeding him pellets and shrimp treats
Someone please help me get him better

Re: Baby RES floats, won't eat, not very active HELP!!!

Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:00 pm
by steve
How long have you had him? Have you only offered him pellets? Can you try something like boiled chicken or tuna? How about live prey like guppies or minnows? Are his eyes open? Are you using a heater? If you are, I'd bump up the water to 80F for starters.
Re: Baby RES floats, won't eat, not very active HELP!!!

Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:01 pm
by LCKing919
He is showing good improvement today. He is eating a lot of his pellets and shrimp. I have goldfish in his tank but they are bigger than he is and probably too quick for the little guy. I'm glad hes eating, but he is still floating very lopsided (almost sideways) and im still worried about him. Ive had him for about 9 or 10 months, but his conditions weren't very good. A few days ago, I gave his tank a renovation and got a lot of things for him including a new filter and heater. The water is steady at about 80 degrees now. He is much much more active today, but he is still floating very lopsided. What can I do for him?
Re: Baby RES floats, won't eat, not very active HELP!!!

Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:04 pm
by Into_the_Mystic
can you take him to a vet?
Re: Baby RES floats, won't eat, not very active HELP!!!

Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:27 pm
by LCKing919
I could, but is there anyway to treat it without taking him to a vet?
Re: Baby RES floats, won't eat, not very active HELP!!!

Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:45 pm
by Aqua&turquoise
My RES does the same thing and s/he's about the same size! Im probably going to take him to the vet if my parents say yes...
Re: Baby RES floats, won't eat, not very active HELP!!!

Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:34 pm
by steve
Can you give us more info about his setup? See the link in my signature. Photos will help too.
Re: Baby RES floats, won't eat, not very active HELP!!!

Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:46 pm
by LCKing919
I will post pictures later, but I have a 10 gallon tank with a water filter and a basking lamp. I have a floating basking platform for him and a rock and a (fake) plant under the water. Theres two water heaters (I bought one and it was not good enough for the size of the tank, so I had to get another and together they keep the water steady at about 80 degrees. I added all of these things about five days ago. I know i should have a larger tank, but it is the best that I can do at the moment.
And I just noticed that he has bubbles coming out of his nose both under and above water.
Re: Baby RES floats, won't eat, not very active HELP!!!

Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:05 pm
by slider_keeper
Sounds like your turtle might have a respiratory infection. Swims lopsided and has bubbles coming out the nose are big indicators of a bad issue. You need to take your turtle to a vet that cares for turtles, asap.