Urgent Care

I am a new turtle owner. I have had Hank for 5 days now and he is a baby yellow belly and only the size of a half dollar. He is very lethargic and hasn't eaten anything since I got him. I have him in a 10 gallon take with a heat lamp and a UVB light. There's water and a place for him to bask. He won't really swim around. If he does get in the water he just floats around and doesn't swim. The temp of the water is 75 degrees. Oh and now he won't open his eyes. The first two days he would at least have his eyes open. I don't know what to do so please someone give me some advice!!

What's the water temperature? What kind of lights are you using? What have you tried to feed him? I'd first try some cod liver oil for his eyes. Also, if you have some unflavored Pedialyte, you can dilute it with water (1:1) and let him soak in it (make sure his water temps are around 80F).

The water stays between 75 and 80. Right now it's 78. I have tried to feed him pellets and romaine lettuce. That is what I was instructed to give him when i bought him. He hasn't eaten any of it tho. Last night he actually opened his eyes for a few minutes and got in the water. He didn't swim tho. He just kinda floated around a little lopsided.

Doesn't sound good. Up the water temp to 80 and I would start looking for a vet.

I agree, a vet would be a good idea at this point. Do you have a water heater?

I don't have a water heater but right now I have the heat lamp on all the time which keeps the water around 78. I measure the temp of the water regularly. Yesterday and today he has his eyes open a lot more and will swim around occasionally. I still haven't seen him eat yet tho. He basks in the heat mostly.

Have you tried the Pedialyte previously mentioned?

i will recomande you to buy a water heater . this happened to my RES too but when i bought my turtle a water heater he/she start ackting so alive

I have done everything recommended except the oil. I am attaching a picture so you can see the improved setup. He has a heat lamp, UVB light, water filter, water heater and basking log. Hank sleeps ALL the time. I see him awake every once in a while. I saw him bite the lettuce once but that's it. Sunday will be two weeks since I got him. Is there something I am missing? Oh and his shell is white when it's dry. Is this normal? I have been trying to read as much as I can about them but I will take any and all advice. Thanks!

Closed/swollen eyes might be a result of a vitamin A deficiency, so cod liver oil would help if thats an issue in this situation. Any chance he can get some sunlight if it's warm outside?

I work all during the day and the sun is on the way down when I get home.

. Will Vitamin A deficiency make him sleep all the time? He doesn't even like to swim really. He will if I put him in the water but he rarely goes in on his own.

No, but I don't know what he would want to do if he couldn't see. As suggested earlier, a herp vet visit might be helpful.

Update. So Hank is still alive but still spends 80 percent of his time basking. I have made a few changes to the tank hoping it will make him more active and I even got him a friend. I know he eats occasionally but never very much. I try to keep an eye to see him eat but he just sits on the rock. I see his shell wet occasionally so I know he swims sometimes but again, he spends all his time on the rock.. The water is 78 degrees due to the heater in the bottom and the heat lamp and UVB lamp are on top of the tank. I noticed yesterday there is a weird white foam around the edges of the water and I have no idea what it is. I have attached photos so you can see how I have everything now and the foam. Let me know what you think. Thank everybody!

Hank.

What kind of friend? How are his eyes?

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