Feeding and Nutrition :: Turtle suddenly stopped eating

[Artsymomma]

Four months ago we were given two baby red eared sliders. From the rapid growth of one, we guess we have a boy and a girl. The little boy suddenly stopped eating three days ago. He drew into his shell and spent most of his time sitting under the full spectrum spotlight. Today we took him to a vet who knows reptiles, and he suggested we warm up the water more (increase from 72 to 80) and try feeding some fresh worms, since he has always been a picky eater, preferring dried shrimp which he won't touch now. Also, the vet gave him a tiny B12 shot. He was much livelier when we brought him home, although noticeably week. Now he is barely moving. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[scripta_elegans]

I would go back to the vet and and ask if it might not be a respiratory infection. The symptoms sound that way to me. 80 degrees is way better for hatchling turtles than 72. I am glad he said that. Did he also say to keep the basking area at 92-95 as he is ill? Did the vet say anything about seperating the turtles for now so that the other baby doesn't get sick as well? I would think that he might have guessed illness with those symptoms, but there may be more to it. Does hte turtle have other signs like open mouthed breathing or lopsided swimming? Are his eyes closed often, or does he seem to have a hard time keeping them fully open?

[Artsymomma]

His eyes are open and bright and he hasn't been mouthbreathing. Mostly, he wanted to sit in the basking area or on top of his sister. During the last half hour, I've found him just floating, rather lifeless, on top of the water. I picked him up and put him on the basking area, thinking he might be dead. But, he lifted his head and moved a bit. Twice now, I've moved him out of the water, thinking he was gone. At the moment he's in the basking area and now his sister is sitting on top of him. The vet seemed to think it wasn't respiratory, but he said you just never know with these little guys.

[steve]

Have you separated them? One turtle will usually out compete another for food, hence the rapid growth -- which is unhealthy. Have you tried some more enticing foods? www.redearslider.com/entice_eating.html