Urgent Care :: HELP! Turtle sitting!!

[cleopatra]

My friend and her family went on a week long cruise. Her husband set up an automatic feeder for the turtle (adult - BIG turtle, BIG tank). She said to check on him every other day or so. I checked Sunday after she left, all looked OK. I checked today (Tues) which is two days after she left. The house STUNK when I walked in. I go straight to turtle, and water is about black. The autofeeder was on overdrive apparantly, it is about empty. The feeder is about the size of my fist to give an idea of how much food was dumped in there. The tank, I dunno at least 3 feet long if I had to guess.

I took it off (it only had about a T of food left in it). I have NO idea how to care for turtle water. They have a well. I don't know if she uses the well water or does bottled water. If bottled water, what kind? Obviously in my knowledge I am only equipped to do a partial water change, should I do this? Would the filter clean out the water if I just left it alone or do I need to do partial water change ASAP?

I apologize if this is the wrong place to post this is urgent IMO and I have NO idea how to care for a big turtle and it's big aquarium. Please advise in layman terms. I have NO way to contact her.

[ljapa]

Definitely a partial water change. Maybe more than one.

The food being consumed by bacteria is your smell and that much in the water isn't good.

Well water should be fine, untreated, especially if they drink it.

With a tank that big, they probably have some type of sink attachment for emptying and filling the tank. Do you see any large, probably clear tubing? One end will attach to the sink and the other end probably has a larger, open, cylindrical attachment.

Attach the sink end. There will be a switch or a way you can twist the thing that hangs off the faucet so water flows out int the sink or down the tubing. Experiment with the water on low. You want it flowing into the sink.

When you have that, turn your water on high. Stick the other end in the tank. It will start sucking out tank water. You can even vacuum out food. The heater should have a mark that says minimum water level. Suck down to that point and stop.

Make sure you have the old closed on the tubing when you reverse the water flow. Mix n some hot water so the temp is similar to the tank. Flip the switch and fill the tank. Low flow is better than too much, so you have time to turn it off.

I'd wait a bit then pull out and add some more.

Good luck! Let us know if there's anything else.

[steve]

How much longer will they be gone? If you're unsure of how they maintained water quality, I would probably keep that turtle out of the water for now.

[cleopatra]

I will root around and look for tubing, they will be gone until Sunday night.

[steve]

That's still a long way to go. Well, you should either do a partial water change as suggested or keep the turtle contained somewhere else. Good luck!