Urgent Care :: Turtles making crazy noises! Watch the video! Are they sick?

[djohnswv]

Hello!

I have 2 red eared sliders in a huge tank (I think its 55 galon, but maybe larger). I have water filter system, water heater that keeps water 78 deg, and a basking area with a light.

My turtles have started to make weird screaching, screaming, and sometimes deep growling noises the past few weeks! I thought maybe it was normal... or maybe even a mating thing, but I googled it and read turtles should not be making any noises! They are pretty active and eat regularly. I have also noticed they seem to float sideways now.. or sometimes their rear end will be floating and their head and front legs will be under water!

Hopefully you can hear them in the video I made... If not, I will have to make a new one.



Are my turtles sick or is this normal?

Thanks,
David

[steve]

I don't think I've ever heard that noise before BUT I don't think I would worry about it either if there are no other symptoms.

You do need to do more with their setup (water levels, substrate, filtration, etc) and the one in the middle looks to have fungus all over the shell.

[djohnswv]

I always wondered why that shell looked different! It has been like that for years. Ive had that turtle for 5+ years now. I just recently got the other one with the smooth shell. They have never made a noise though until recently! My old turtle started doing it, now the new turtle is doing it. Google said they shouldn't make noises and it could be a sign of respiratory infection and other illnesses... it said the same for the weird sideways floating they have been doing!

[steve]

re: fungus -- Shell fungus is pretty contagious to other turtles, so the other turtle will probably get it as well.

I don't know about the listing, however if they don't have enough water, I can't judge their floating/swimming ability.

[unclejoe]

I have never seen that before either. Don't have a whole lot of experience with pet turtles.. but We spent many hours with wild turtles of several specials and can't say I have ever seen a turtle do that. I don't know what it means though. Its almost like they are gasping for more air. Do they only do that when basking or also when they swim around?

I just hope they don't have a blockage. I have seen other animals do that gasping when they have a blockage

[unclejoe]

I do think the side ways floating is a sign of something off. I have seen turtles in very shallow water and they don't float side ways at all. the only part that seems to float above water is the rounded part of their shells. I have read side ways listing so to speak could be a sign of gas.. but typically that rights itself on its own..

[djohnswv]

they make that weird screaming noise all day, every day... when they are basking and also when they are swimming or in the water. they poke their heads about water, open their mouth and stretch their necks out and screech away! lol

[unclejoe]

Its hard to say if its an idiosyncrasy or a sign something is wrong. I mean I think I would err on the side that something isn't right. I just don't know what to advise you since I don't have much experience yet with pet turtles. Is there a chance they swallowed some of the colored rocks?? they look to be about the size that they may try to eat..

[djohnswv]

no... i dont think theres any way both could have tried to swallow a piece of the river rock I have in there. Ive never noticed them biti g atit or anything like that! the turtles sit it my living room next to the main tv in the house, so they are always watched by someone! I also feed them ReptoMin floating food sticks from the pet store. They have no problem eating them... or the occasional small feeder gold fish once a month!

[unclejoe]

I found this link on our site,, doing some research on yawning turtles.. It sounds like you may have to take them to a vet.. The yawning with the listing and in ability to submerge are all signs of a possible problem..

I will let you read through all this info,,

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