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I have two new turtles (got them about a week ago) and have them in a temporary set up in a 10 gallon tupperware bucket with rocks and a light on top of the basking rock (completely out of the water). They are baby RES, about 2 inches long and have been doing well thus far. Ever since it got a bit colder from the heat wave, one of the turtles has been very sluggish and scared of us lately, won't eat,and i've seen him kind of shivering, partially in his shell, and seems to be sleeping. I'm going to go tomorrow to get a heater and the such, but what can I do right now? Change the water? I need help...I'm afraid he's really sick.

How big is your turtle? 2 inches
How long have you had it? 1 week exactly

What is the water temperature? Not sure
Are you using a water heater? No
How much water is in there? Enough for them to swim around in a 10 gallon tank
Are you using a water conditioner? No
Are you using any filtration? No

What is the basking temperature? Not sure
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? Rock/brick from outside
Is there a UVB light? No

What have you been trying to feed it? Pellets
When was the last time your turtle ate? 3 days ago

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 10 gallons
Is the tank near a window? No
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? No

Have you read the Basic Care section? Yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? Yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? No, but the other turtle is perfectly fine and tries to eat the other one's food!!

PLEASE HELP!!

first off howcold is the water? if it is below 70 degrees then it is alread too low. the proper heat should be from 74 to 76 degrees. if it is that low then that might explain the sluggish movement. if it keeps too low then it will go into artificial hibernation which is fatal to younglings and not very good for adults either. the heater is a must and a filter of sort wouldnt hurt either. you can do without one for now though but it is reccomended for easier cage cleanings. also, do you have a basking area for him? that could help with the sluggish movements. do you have a pic of the set up that you can share?

Ahhh fatal??!?! I can't get anything for him right now. Will I still be able to save him somehow?? It won't be til tomorrow that I can get a heater for him!

It is very important that you know what your water and basking temps are. It is also very important that your water temp is constant for hatchlings. Hatchlings are more susceptible to respritory infections and other illnesses. You need to not only get a suitable tank for your little guys, but a heater, decent filter, and some themometers.