Urgent Care

--- UPDATE:
Turtle is moving slow; lacks excitation. She finally ate a tiny little bit of cooked chicken (she ate that a few times no problem). I was getting worried of the lack of energy due to lack of food.

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I ran out of turtle pellets, so I resorted to feeding it other items, after having consulted a few do's and don'ts here.
I gave her raw carrots (cut in pieces) and pieces of brocoli. I found out later in the day a mess in the tank which was probably her vomit (consisting mostly of pieces from said meal). I concluded that truly her stomach wasn't used to a drastically different meal (she only get pellets usually) so I'm not so concerned about her puking it. I'm more concerned about other pieces I found in the mess, which resembled what I think is pieces of shell. See attached picture.

Full size image: http://i.imgur.com/A6QN0.jpg
Pen added for size comparison. Webcam shot quality.

I'm concerned: is she sick because she's eatinh that? Or is it because I gave her a new kind of food (raw veggies) and this is, somehow, unrelated?

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Mandatoty information:
Size: 5in long
Had it for 2 yrs and a half (since "birth")

Water T= 78-80 (strip thermometer)
100W water heater.
In a 15G tank (no comment), almost full.
Not using water conditioner/other products. Water from the tap.
Large Fluval 206 filter.

Basking temperature unknown. It stands 7 inches away from a 100W incandescent lightbulb.
There is, next to it, a fluorescent lamp ("any" fluorescent lamp for general lighting).

Nutrition: Usual turtle pellets (Nutrifin Max). Attempted raw veggies (carrots, brocoli)
Last time, yesterday (after having puked once): small bits of carrots

Tank is not near a window. Tank is behind me in my office/room.
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This is her right now. She usually isn't so prone to sleeping. She's moving slowly and generally staying inside this plastic thing, like in the picture.

http://imgur.com/dH1zq

It could also be from what was in her excrement. I always see bits of carrots when I offer it. Those pieces do look like bits of shell, though could really be anything else in the tank. I usually see some cork bark in my turtle's poop.

Wow, huh so. Sorry for posting this, but here's a pic of poop that's of concerning size. http://imgur.com/JcFGb
Maybe she was just constipated.

That seems normal. She also looks to be going through some shell fungus, has she shed recently?

Not really. Once in a while I see medium or large chunk of shell in the tank, and it even appear she ate some...

I found a tiny orange pebble in her excrement, the kind that's usually used in aquarium and strictly forbidden for turtles. I used to have that kind of gravel when I first had the tank but got rid of it promptly about 2 yrs ago. Is it possible she had a piece of grave in her all that time? I mean, the aquarium has _nothing_ on the floor at all since all that time.

Still behaving very slowly, ill-looking. Not attracted to food really. She's usually very excited to see my finger or food across the window and swims toward it, however now she just stares whilst not moving.

She's probably re-eating it after all this time. I have heard it happening for months, not years though. I would give her a thorough physical examination and try some very enticing foods. If there's no change then I would take her to see a vet.

Because of this forum, I learned that my turtles will regularly eat their own poop.
I was horrified but it did explain so much.

And it made me more enthusiastic about cleaning the tank more often because... ew.

Hope your girl feels better soon. I have nothing really to contribute except poop comments.

Not really. Once in a while I see medium or large chunk of shell in the tank, and it even appear she ate some...

A skute it thin; losing large chunks would be concerning.

Vomit is not to be taken lightly. Turtles are like garbage disposals - they will eat anything. If you have seen vomit (what went in, came out) more than once, then time for a vet. If you see vomit and diarrhea (what went in is floating on the top) occurring at the same time, then time for a vet. In this case, the poop looks normal.
You need to make a judgement call on the barf...did it happen once? or more than once?
There was a time when Penelope barfed a few times and I ignored it because she went back to 'normal'
That was before I learned that turtles can be ill and then turn around and hide it very, very well. She spent weeks in the Vet Hospital due to my ignorance at the time.

So, do not to just brush it aside. Two barfs=a vet visit.
Case: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15029
and Point: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17011

Things are looking better now. She refused food for a few days (4-5), so I was concerned, but I read that sometimes RES can stay a while without eating. I deliberately turned off the filter so I could monitor what was in the water. During those days I she kept doing a few excrement until eventually (I assume) she was empty. At that time she also showed sign of hunger (at last!) and happily ate some small dehydrated shrimps. She looks much better now; in my opinion almost like before (except a little weak from the lack of food, I assume). So far so good, I'm feeding her minute amount and since the tank is exactly where I spend most of my days, I can monitor everything.

I'm kinda glad she's now behaving normally (interaction to fingers/hand in front of tank/above water, strong reaction to view of food & generally good eating, bask/attempt to, indefinetly swimming in the glass panel, etc)
Thanks all for all your tips!

i am so glad things are better. it sure sounds like she is happy.
isn't it great to be able to hang out with her all day? i have the same luxury: )

Urgent Care :: Turtle vomitted meal (twice) + unknown items in vomit

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