Urgent Care :: RES - Wont eat, swim or open eyes

[scobeto]

My son got a RES hatchling for xmas and it hasn't eaten, rarely opens his eyes and doesn't do much of anything all day.

Not sure what to do first don't want to stress the little guy. Water temp is 80 deg can't get a good read on basking area says anywhere from 80-100 deg

Should I change the water, apply a&d ointment, increase temp or move location of tank (old house could be drafty).

Please HELP!

[VeipaCray]

How big is your turtle?
How long have you had it?

What is the water temperature?
Did you use a thermometer?
Are you using a water heater?
How much water is in there?
Are you using a water conditioner?
Are you using any filtration?

What is the basking temperature?
Is there a basking light?
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on?
What kind is it or what is it made out of?
Is there a UVB light?

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

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure?
Is the tank near a window?
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity?

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

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms?

[VeipaCray]

That's the basic questionnaire for posting in this section of the forum. I know you've answered a few of them already in your post.

80 could be a little warm for water - 78 is ideal. 90 is good for the basking area. What are you feeding them? Have you tried offering different foods? Have you tried the pellets soaked in tuna juice? Are you feeding them in the water?

[scobeto]

Sorry! Here is more info!

He has a 1" shell and I have had Phill for 10 days.
Water Temp is 80 Deg and I use a thermometer, I have a underwater heater and used a conditioner and have a water filter.
I have a basking area kinda hard to measure temp it is a magnetic rock to can adjust he can get on and off easy. I have a thermometer on the side of the tank but I don't think it is accurately measuring temp. I do not have a UVB light just a florescent.

I just not sure what to do first. I have read a lot posts and don't want to stress him.


I have never seen him eat. I have offered pellet in and out of water, crickets, shrimp treas, tuna, raw green beans, and tuna juice soaked pellets.

[steve]

They don't often eat if they can't see. Do they look swollen? I would head to local drug store and pick up 2 things - cod liver oil (gel capsules), and Pedialyte.

Puncture a capsule and apply some of the oil directly onto they eyes - use a cotton swab if necessary. Let that soak for awhile then soak him in a container of warm water (80F) and the Pedialyte (a 1:1 solution).

Hopefully this will give him some vitamins and electrolytes and open up his eyes.

[scobeto]

Pedialyte? I am guessing unflavored? How long is awhile on the cod liver oil 20min or 1hr? Thank you Thank you for giving me something to try!

[steve]

Yes, unflavored. Give the cod liver about 10 minutes.

[scobeto]

How long should I keep him in pedialyte?

[steve]

15-20 minutes... enough time for him to drink some.

[scobeto]

He seem to look a little better after bath, eyes were open for a while and seemed more alert only time will tell if he will eat. How often should I offer food and should I only feed him in the water or is on basking rock ok? Also how often should I give him cod liver oil/pedialyte bath?

Thanks for all you advice!

[steve]

I wouldn't do the cod liver oil for more than a few days, though you should be able to do the Pedialyte for a while. Now, you really need to try to get him to eat. I would pick up some feeder fish like rosy red minnows from the pet store. Catch one and hold it by the tail, let it wiggle and squirm in front of his face. Let him try to bite and eat it. Remember, he needs to be in water to swallow and eat.

[scobeto]

He seem to be doing better to day! He kept one eye open for quite a bit and the other opened for a short while. He gone on a couple of swims and spent some time in the water just floating with his head submerged. He has not submerged himself to the bottom yet and has not eaten. We bought some blood worms and tried dangle them but he just runs from the tweezers. Any thoughts on the feeding? The food just sinks to the bottom and he won't go down to get it. The pellets float but he is not interested. He defiantly seems feistier today.

Thanks for you help he seem to be doing better.

[steve]

Good to hear. He still needs some nutrition, have you tried the minnows? They also sell canned mini-crickets... you can try to use those as well but a wiggling fish is hard for them to resist.

[scobeto]

Will do! I will keep you updated.

Thanks again.

[scobeto]

I bought some guppies and he is still not interested. He is just sitting in the water floating on a plant. The guy at the fish store said that he had turtles for a long time a he thinks he might be brumating (not sure on the spelling of that). What do you think the chances of that? The pet store had them in a tank by the door where they let dogs in and out and the tank may have been cold. I am still a little afraid it might be RI but he is not bubbling at the mouth or nose and is not breathing through his mouth.