Urgent Care :: i think my turt is dieing

[buttrflydreams06]

help please!!! i got my maybe 2 weeks a go. hes a hatchling. when i got him he was soft but he seamed ok. for the last two days hes been acting funny he usually runs aroung if you let down on the ground, etc. but now he just sits there with his eyes closed as if hes sleeping. i know hes not dead beacause he opens his eyes. for a little while at least. and when hes in his tank just stays on the basking area and doesnt move unless you put him in the water. when you do that he just swims to the bottom and lets himself float to the top, and then sits there for a minuet before going to the baasking area again and doing it all over again. i dont know to do so can somebody help me please?

[steve]

Can you fill out some of the questions here: http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2142

Try to be accurate, especially regarding temperatures and what you've been feeding.

[buttrflydreams06]

How big is your turtle? 1 inch
How long have you had it? 2 weeks

What is the water temperature? 76
Are you using a water heater? no
How much water is in there? 10 gallon tank 2/3 full
Are you using a water conditioner? no
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? 80
Is there a basking light? yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? floating rock
Is there a UVB light? no

What have you been trying to feed it? wardley reptile pellets and some lettuce
When was the last time your turtle ate? yesterday

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 10 gallons
Is the tank near a window? yes
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? yes

Have you read the Basic Care section? yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? no

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? in my previous post

[steve]

OK, I would bump the water temperature to 80-82 and get the basking area around 87-90 degrees. Lethargy could be a symptom of any number of illnesses... is he swimming lopsided? Does he still have an appetite? Has he previously been skittish around people or pretty calm?

[buttrflydreams06]

hes never been skittish. and no he doesnt swim lopsided that i can tell. he swims pretty good. but his shell has gotten even softer than when i got him if you just barely touch him his shell bends.



also i just noticed but he is breathing hard as far as i can tell. ive never noticed him breath this hard before.

[steve]

The shell will gradually get harder, so if its gotten softer since you had him then that's not a good sign. Without UVB light, his body can not produce vitamin d3. vitamin d3 metabolizes calcium, which might explain the soft shell. Try to get him direct, unobstructed sunlight - which means taking him outside. Keep your tank away from a window since sunlight can heat a 10 gallon tank very quickly and drafts could fluctuate temperatures and make your turtle sick. Also try to see if he will eat some cuttlebone (remove the hard backing and give him tiny bite size pieces).

[steve]

I'd also recommend getting a water heater to bump the temperatures up and keep them consistent. I'd also consider getting him to a vet to get a professional evaluation.

[buttrflydreams06]

i have him sitting in front of me now ive never seen him like this he can barely keep his eyes open and he used to run around that why i call him speedy but now hes acting as tough moving is hurting him. he can barley keep his head up hes kind of flopping around one foot at a time. Is he dieing?????

[missibsu]

I wouldn't keep removing him from the tank. Since he is already sick, you could be adding more stress for him. Best bet is to leave him in the water and follow the advice that was given above. 1st priorities in the morning need to be given to a water heater, finding a source of UVB, and getting an appt with a herp vet. There is a better survival rate when an illness is caught early and treated properly.

[buttrflydreams06]

this is the first time ive taken him out today. i could try to get an appointment with a herp vet. the only problem is there are only two herp vet in louisiana that i know of and one is 2 hours away and the other is 6. and i dont have a car. what am i going to do??????

[steve]

Can you call them and maybe you can ask their opinions over the phone? You can also check a local herp association. I would imagine there to be a lot of RES hobbyists in Louisiana... Please get him help as soon as you can.

[buttrflydreams06]

he just died. right there in my hand. i was going to put him in his tank and when i looked at him...... thanks for all of your help it was just to late.

[steve]

Sorry to hear that.

[buttrflydreams06]

R.I.P. speedy

[missibsu]

Sorry for your loss.