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RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2018 12:39 pm
by kbwarrior2
I have 2 RESs in a 125 gallon tank with a heater and a Fluval FX6 filter. One of my turtles is 19-20 years old and the younger one is nearly 7 (in April). The older one is not eating much and the younger is not eating at all. I thought it was because they were in hibernation mode. The younger one has had picky eating issues before, but finally, when she got hungry, she would go back to eating. Now she wants nothing. I've tried buying other, new food. Neither of them wants it. I thought maybe she was going to lay eggs, which she has never done, (though the older one has) but she never has.

I will say the older turtle was one we got from a pet store when my son was young. The younger one was picked up in TN after they had all hatched and were looking for water, but were getting run over by cars...we rescued about 7 of them to return them to a pond, but this one was too tiny (about the size of a quarter) to even get off the rock in the pond on the windy day in April, when we put her there. She also would have been eaten by carp in the pond. So we bought a 10 gal tank, pump and heater and kept her. She contracted pneumonia when we moved to TX and we nursed her back to health with the vet's help. The vet showed me how to give her subcutaneous antibiotic shots in her leg and we gave her oral calcium. We also spent about $2000 getting her well. My husband has passed away and I'm on a fixed income now, so I don't have that kind of $$$ any longer.
They are both female.

How big is your turtle? 9 inches long
How long have you had it? since she hatched in the wild, April 2011

What is the water temperature? 78 degrees
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? about 1/2 full (to keep them from climbing out at egg laying time)
Are you using a water conditioner? no
Are you using any filtration? Fluval FX6

What is the basking temperature? right now, a bit cooler than usual, as it's winter
Is there a basking light? yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? granite
Is there a UVB light? the light bulb is the Repti Tuff 75w Halogen light

What have you been trying to feed it? Reptomin floating food sticks, dried meal worms, Aquatic Turtle Entree
When was the last time your turtle ate? I think it's been over 2 months. They only want to eat about every 3-4 days; in summer it's about every 2-3 days

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 125 gal
Is the tank near a window? near, but not at. Window is at a covered patio
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? Kitchen. I'm the only one in the house.

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

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? Very quiet and basking on top of each other. The older one is always on top. There is room for both on the granite.

Re: RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2018 2:21 pm
by steve
Aside from not eating, are there any other physical or behavioral symptoms? Have you tried all the treats that she would normally go for?

Re: RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2018 3:11 pm
by kbwarrior2
She's never wanted much in the way of treats. The other one eats a frozen vegetable/worm cube, but this one won't eat it. She also doesn't care for the dried mealworms or live red wigglers I've fed the others.
No unusual activity. Right now, they are both very inactive.

Re: RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2018 4:00 pm
by steve
Have you tried live minnows before? What's the temps in your area?

Re: RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 2:32 pm
by kbwarrior2
Temps are in the 20s and 30s here in TX, but going back up as time goes on. She has never been interested in anything live, swimming around. We have tried minnows.

Re: RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 2:33 pm
by kbwarrior2
Just wondering if there is a blockage or what might be causing this for so long.

Re: RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 11:49 pm
by steve
Do you have any gravel in the tank? Only an x-ray will show physical blockages. You should try a live minnow (hold it by the tail and let it wiggle in front of her face).

Re: RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 5:51 pm
by kbwarrior2
There's no gravel in the tank for that reason. I have done that with minnows. Sorry I'm such a hard case.

Re: RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 7:13 pm
by steve
It's not too unusual though... my male RES has barely eaten anything over the last 2 months as well. Turtles do seem to be affected by SAD (seasonal affective disorder) during the winter.

Re: RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 11:50 am
by kbwarrior2
Thanks for all of your thoughts. She ate a couple of bites yesterday. We may be getting back to a more normal state. =)

Re: RES hasn't eaten in at least 2 months

PostPosted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:05 am
by steve
Good to hear!