Urgent Care :: Sick?

[caitstyle]

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

What is the water temperature? 78
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? 6 inches
Are you using a water conditioner? yes
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? 86
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? plastic ramp
Is there a UVB light? Not sure, I know UVA for sure. Basking lamp may be UVB

What have you been trying to feed it? lettuce, and reptomin sticks
When was the last time your turtle ate? this morning

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 10 gal
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? Lethargic/ neck appears swollen, same with eyes. (neck behind head)

[octpusgirl8]

Definitely sounds like you have a sick turtle there, swollen eyes are an indicator of many problems. If you only have one basking light, and it provides heat, it does not provide UVB rays. You need a flourescent for this, it can either be a straight tube or the compact kind that screws into a regular fixture. They're a little expensive but they are very necessary for your turtles well-being. I don't think this is causeing your problem though. I would say that your turtle was sick when you bought it and wasn't showing any symptoms yet. If it is a respratory illness, you need to take it to a vet ASAP, turtles as small as yours are very fragile. On a side note, you should think about getting a larger tank, 10 gallons is pretty small for 3 turtles, even if they are tiny. A cramped environment will put stress on the turtles, making them more susceptible to diseases.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I agree with octpusgirl8, your turtles need a UVB light because without one they will develop a large number of shell problems, leaving you with a pricey vet bill!

Your turtle sounds very ill, i would seperate it from the others and take it to a vet ASAP.

And yes, you definitley need a bigger tank for them. I dont know how big your other turtles are, but if they are around the same size..you will need a 30 gallon tank to house them all (10 gallons per every inch of your turtle).

Keep in mind that having 3 turtles takes ALOT of money...males can grow 9 to 10 inches and females 10 to 12 inches. Your looking at a tank over 300 gallons in the future, I hope your ready!

[caitstyle]

I'm heading to the store today to improve the tank situation. Fergie (the "sick" turtle) still eats a lot, but seems to prefer to bask more. Eyes and neck are still swollen. (swollen area's have a pinkish tinge.) Do you think it could be some kind of trauma?


*Edit: tanks in the futrue isn't too much of a problem for me. I have a 90 waiting to be used at home (i'm away at school). Over the summer I'm going to build a habitat in the backyard.

[megcornell]

If you could post pictures of the sick turtle that would help people advise you on what to do.
I would assume that the illness is not trauma related and separate the turtle from the other two-- better safe than sorry.
A 90 gallon is good for the meantime, I assume classes end in a month or so for you, but truthfully that won't be large enough for three turtles, and if the turtles are cramped they're more likely to fight.

[marisa]

Where exactly is the swelling? A pic would be helpful...If it looks like a lump and is in the area where the "ears" are, it could be an abcess. The turtle is lethargic but still eats well? It would be good to separate him from the others and keep him a little warmer---water 81-82F, basking area about 90F---until you can have him seen by a herp vet.

[caitstyle]

the temps have gotten better. still eats like a pig. my camera for some reason isn't focusing right so i'm going to charge it. the best way to discribe the lump, it is located in line with the top of the head where the neck fold is. Where the ridge is on the bump it sort of looks like u could see something tucked inside the fold, but not. Along the fold at that spot its a bit pink.

I'll try my best to get a good pic

[steve]

It sounds like an abscess though a picture would be really helpful. An abscess is fairly common, but still needs to be lanced/drained by a herp vet.

You can also do a search for it... there are plenty of pictures of them.

Have you separated them yet?

[caitstyle]

Problem- I've called several local vets and none seem to take turtles. theres a vet in rochester about 45 min away, but I dont have access to a car. . I don't know what to do anymore.

[caitstyle]

closed/swollen eyes


Lump on head/neck

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Poor little guy, he looks realy sick. Is it possible to take a city bus all the way to the vet clinic?

[caitstyle]

Unfortunatly, no. theres a bus to the airport, train station, and mall. I could try to get one of my friends to take me who have cars, but people tend to be unrealiable.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Well explain your situation to your friends, tell them how serious it is. There has got to be a way...that turtle needs a vet ASAP.

Your Turtle does look like it has an abscess, a vet will need to remove it.

[caitstyle]

I'll do my best, I hope i don't get the "its just stupid turtle" talk. People can be so ignorant.
Could you believe that one kid pretty much mocked me for being pre-vet? He claim that humans should take precidence over animals for medicine, and becoming a vet is a waste of medical talent.

(and this is coming from a kid who was pre-med and couldn't handle the courseload and switched to being an art major)


pardon my rant, I have many things going on and I'm afraid the worst situations are just going to keep happening.

[DavidY]

In the pre-vet classes I took, they said that because the competition to get into veterinary school was so fierce most of the people that don't make it become medical doctors, since a lot of the pre-med courses are the same as pre-vet. It's a lot harder to be a vet than an md since you have to know the anatomy and physiology of so many different species.

So just think, the next time you go to visit your doctor or have to go under the knife, you just may be putting your life into the hands of someone who got rejected from Veterinary school! lol!