Urgent Care :: new turtle keeper

[lamatrudo]

Hi,
I got my 7yr old son a turtle. The pet store people did not tell us about the uv light. He went for almost 3 months without it. He is lethargic eyes closed not eating one eye looks puffy, not anthing oozing. We now have a uv light ,heat light and a night light. I repeadedly called the pet store for advise and it was always the same....wrong. Well split milk, we all fell in love with our guy, he is about 6inches and I don't want him to die. We have a filter and a 30gal tank. I have asked about a heater and they say I don't need one, our house is 75 degrees and I have closed the air duct near his tank. He has improved greatly with the light, do I need to do anything else, I am going to get the zoo eye drops in the morning. Diet only those repo sticks and the krull for snacks. When he gets better the diet will be like the ones I have been reading about. I guess I need help all around. I admitt I was one of those parents who were ignorent to the reptile world, but I am fast learning the great benifets of it. Any helpful advise will be greatly appreaciated.

[missibsu]

First thing you can do to make yourself more knowledgable...stop listening to the people at the pet store.

A 6 inch turtle should have at least 60 gallons of water. The set up should also include a great filter, UVB and UVA, as well as a heater. At 6 inches your turtle should have a water temp between 72-75. Although because he is sick, I would recommend bumping it up to 78-80. I would also recommend a trip to a herp vet. Even if he seems to be on the med, it wouldn't hurt for him to be checked over.

How long has he been lathargic? What is the water temp currently? Do you have a basking area? Is he eating what you feed? Is he breathing through his mouth?

[lamatrudo]

Dear Missibsu,
We have already stoppped listening to the pet store, I have all 3 lights going for him, My water tank is between 72 -75. I miss measured the little guy he is 4 inches. We have a great filter on him, his tank never smells and we clean it once a week or more.
He is not eating but his shell looks much better this mirning. My reasearch indicated a water heater, so this mirning I am going to get that and the eye drops. He is not breathing through his mouth or blowing bubbles. I want to keep Horus as happy and healthy as the rest of our pets, Our vet does not do turtles, I will have to do some investigating on that.
Thanks for the reply.
lamatrudo



RES, 2 fish, and a lady greyhound

[missibsu]

There is a sticky at the top of this section of the forum to help you locate a herp vet. Try the drops and the heater and see if you notice any improvement, but if you don't, then I would go ahead and make moves to get a vet appt.

[marisa]

I'd get him a water heater and set the temp at 79-80F for a few days and see if the warmth doesn't help get him going. What are the 3 lights that you have going for him? They do need to be off at night. If it's cool where you are, cover a good portion of the tank at night. It will help trap in the warmth from the water heater.

[lamatrudo]

Horus ate for the first time this morning!!!!! His eyes are still closed and he is still basking on the rock. We are going to try the heater and drops for a few days and I have 2 vets near me. I will keep you posted. thanks for all the help. Thank goodness I finally found this site, I am not very good on the computer. Reading all the other comments helped me put together a plan to help our little guy. It always seem that kids and pet get sick on the weekend and holidays. Thanks to all.
lamatrudo

[Shavannah]

Good luck with the little guy, hope he's better soon. And you're right about kids and pets, whenever mine get sick, it seems it's always on Friday night, lol.

[lamatrudo]

I spoke too soon. Horus is not ding well at all. His left eye is still swollen closed and his mouth looks puffy. He is going to the vet in the morning. Is there anything I can do in the mean time? We all feel so bad.
lamatrudo

[missibsu]

Make sure the water is really clean, and the water temp is raised to about 81 or 82. Also, give him some space. No need to stress him even more. My thoughts are with you! Keep us posted on the vet visit.

[lamatrudo]

Horus is really sick. He has scud on his shell and RI. He is on injections , 10min of natural sun a day, gentian violet, eye drops and a tank cleaning every other day. The vet had turtles all his life and was really nice. He said he came from the pet shop that way. It has been a fast learning expierence. I will keep you posted on his recovery.
lamatrudo

[Shavannah]

Good luck with Horus, hope he's quickly on the mend.

[wetchikn]

Good luck our thougths are with you

[lamatrudo]

Hello, for all who has helped with the Horus saga.........we went back to the vet, for eye ointment ( a very hard white scab fell off his left eye tonight and he is seeing out of both eyes again) We dig worms from the garden and place him in a special place to feed him so we know if he's eating...tonight is the first time in over a week he has eaten! And the antiboitic shots every 3 days.
We are tired, but tonight is the 1st time I feel he is going to pull through.
The pet shop where we got him from has even agreed to pay all vet bills and compensate us......so, thanks for everything. I hope we are seeing daylight, I can't believe how attached we got to this turtle. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers
Lamatrudo

[missibsu]

The pet shop where we got him from has even agreed to pay all vet bills and compensate us......so, thanks for everything.

WOW! That is the first that I have ever heard of a pet store doing this. Is this a national chain store, or a local mom and pop type of place?

[CountryGirl68]

WOW! That is the first that I have ever heard of a pet store doing this.

I second that!!