New turtle mom

[Marg1]

Hi all. Thanks for helping me back in November. But now I’ve noticed she isn’t the same. She used to jump off her basking ledge to see me now she just sits there. Any advice?

 

[TammyJ]

Can you find your original thread? Not everyone will remember the story.

 

[Marg1]

Can you find your original thread? Not everyone will remember the story.

Original story is. My son had her for 17 years moved away and gave her to me. I have her since September. She has been fine greeting me every morning so happily. 3 days now she doesn’t greet me and stay on her basking ledge. She doesn’t look happy. A little droopy. May have to get her to the vet.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

He! You are doing the right thing by being worried about a change in behavior.

Are there any other symptoms?

• Cloudy/watery eyes
• Swollen eyes
• Bubbles from the nose
• Wheezing while breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Open mouth breathing, gasping for air, coughing or sneezing
• Swelling on the side of the head
• Runny poops

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Can you find your original thread? Not everyone will remember the story.

Here it is:

Hi I'm a new turtle mom

My son gave me his painter turtle which he raised for 17 years. this is new too me. She is in a 40 gallon tank with good filter. any advice?

tortoiseforum.org

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

@mark1 or @Markw84 do you think this could be a respiratory infection?

 

[mark1]

is she eating? sick animals #1 look sick #2 don't eat or eat well, imo, most people overfeed, after awhile they don't eat the same because they're legit not hungry, or years of overfeeding has caused disease #3 they don't thermoregulate at all or normally, at some point , before it's too late, sick is obvious ...... to be in a "normal" environment they need a dry basking area, an area of shallow water, deeper water and plants to hide in, they can't always need to swim to be in the water......

 

[Marg1]

is she eating? sick animals #1 look sick #2 don't eat or eat well, imo, most people overfeed, after awhile they don't eat the same because they're legit not hungry, or years of overfeeding has caused disease #3 they don't thermoregulate at all or normally, at some point , before it's too late, sick is obvious ...... to be in a "normal" environment they need a dry basking area, an area of shallow water, deeper water and plants to hide in, they can't always need to swim to be in the water......

I set the automatic feeder to about 8 pellets. She has a dry basking ledge in a 40 gallon tank. What plants do you suggest. Bow is my Stuckey in her tank. Thanks for helping.

 

[mark1]

I set the automatic feeder to about 8 pellets. She has a dry basking ledge in a 40 gallon tank. What plants do you suggest. Bow is my Stuckey in her tank. Thanks for helping.

is pellets all she eats ? imo, they need more than just pellets, worms, bugs, minnows, whole live(dead) prey, i like to feed beef liver occasionally...... plastic plants would be fine , so she can be in the water without having to be swimming....... is her water heated to a certain temp, or just room temp? if she stops eating , then i'd be concerned....

 

[Marg1]

is pellets all she eats ? imo, they need more than just pellets, worms, bugs, minnows, whole live(dead) prey, i like to feed beef liver occasionally...... plastic plants would be fine , so she can be in the water without having to be swimming....... is her water heated to a certain temp, or just room temp? if she stops eating , then i'd be concerned....

She stopped eating for a couple days so I stopped the pellets and dropped in a frozen brine shrimp and she went right after it. So you’re right I should get some worms. I’ll look into some plants. Did you see the picture of her tank?

 

[mark1]

tank looks fine to me, as long as she's using her entire environment to thermoregulate, is eating, looks healthy, and has some strength to her, i'd not be concerned...... i've had sick turtles where they could barely resist having their legs pulled out and had little strength to push with their legs in trying to get away....

 

[Marg1]

Thanks so much. I truly appreciate your advice. Let’s keep in touch. Happy New Year.

 

[Marg1]

tank looks fine to me, as long as she's using her entire environment to thermoregulate, is eating, looks healthy, and has some strength to her, i'd not be concerned...... i've had sick turtles where they could barely resist having their legs pulled out and had little strength to push with their legs in trying to get away....

Just wanted to share with you how my Stuckey has been for a couple days. I found some white particles at the bottom could she have laid more eggs? She looks depressed. Thanks for reading.

 

[mark1]

Just wanted to share with you how my Stuckey has been for a couple days. I found some white particles at the bottom could she have laid more eggs? She looks depressed. Thanks for reading.

more eggs? she had laid eggs? is she eating ? no place to lay eggs can be a problem.......

 

[Marg1]

more eggs? she had laid eggs? is she eating ? no place to lay eggs can be a problem.......

What concerns me is that my son had her for 17 years and she dropped eggs seasonal or less. Now I have her and I’ve seen twice in the 4 months I have her. She is lethargic and not eating so I ordered new food and dried shrimp and bugs that she would like which hasn’t been delivered. Thanks for taking time to help

 

[mark1]

if she's not eating a visit to a competent vet would be a good idea........ her eyes look good and clear , lack of activity is a bad sign , the egg thing could be concerning, a vet can palpate her and/or x-ray to eliminate that as an issue..... i've used oxytocin on dogs, i've read of it used on reptiles...... if the vet goes that route ,it's not risk free on dogs , i'd assume the same risks pertain to reptiles..............

 

[Marg1]

if she's not eating a visit to a competent vet would be a good idea........ her eyes look good and clear , lack of activity is a bad sign , the egg thing could be concerning, a vet can palpate her and/or x-ray to eliminate that as an issue..... i've used oxytocin on dogs, i've read of it used on reptiles...... if the vet goes that route ,it's not risk free on dogs , i'd assume the same risks pertain to reptiles..............

Thanks for the advice again. You’re so helpful. I’ll find an aquatic vet in my area in the meantime I’ll do a water change. Much appreciated.

 

[mark1]

exotic vet , most likely avian...... the link will take you to a page you can put your zip code at the bottom and a radius distance to find a reptile vet.....


Find A Vet

 

[Marg1]

exotic vet , most likely avian...... the link will take you to a page you can put your zip code at the bottom and a radius distance to find a reptile vet.....


Find A Vet

Thank you sooo much. I found one in my area. I will call Monday. I did the water change and she started swimming around. Could be she’s bored. I’ll find out more once she’s looked at. Thanks again.