Urgent Care :: Help!!! Respiratory infection!

[HelpMeHesdying]

My 5 year old Res has been opening his mouth and making a weird sound when I pick him up. The sound sounds like a human gasping. Is it because he's surprised, or does he have Respiratory Infection??

[xd99xd.2]

Im not an expert at all but answer these few questions frist then wait for someone that has more knowledge.

-Is he swiming loopsided
-When he is basking or when breathing in the tank is his mouth open, in a upward position
-Mucous or bubbles from mouth
-Coughing or sneezing
-making the whezing noise when breathing.
These are the main/commen symptoms

But the way you are saying its happening because:
He is hissing at you for picking him up
Mouth open is he is protecting himself getting ready to bite
My female does the same thing occasionly

[HelpMeHesdying]

Im not an expert at all but answer these few questions frist then wait for someone that has more knowledge.

-Is he swiming loopsided
-When he is basking or when breathing in the tank is his mouth open, in a upward position
-Mucous or bubbles from mouth
-Coughing or sneezing
-making the whezing noise when breathing.
These are the main/commen symptoms

But the way you are saying its happening because:
He is hissing at you for picking him up
Mouth open is he is protecting himself getting ready to bite
My female does the same thing occasionly

No to all of the questions. But I've noticed him twitching but that may be becuase he's shedding a lot and he's itchy.

[HelpMeHesdying]

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[xd99xd.2]

Waiting for Steve to chime in here but answer these questions to help with the problem

Here are the standard urgent care questions doing this will help:


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?
______________________
If your water/ basking temp is to low he will not have much energy

[HelpMeHesdying]

Waiting for Steve to chime in here but answer these questions to help with the problem

Here are the standard urgent care questions doing this will help:


What is the water temperature? I don't know, I dont have a water heater.
Did you use a thermometer? No
Are you using a water heater?No
How much water is in there? 2 inches
Are you using a water conditioner? no
Are you using any filtration? No

What is the basking temperature? I take him outside to bask the sun, its about 100 degrees outside.
Is there a basking light? No.
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? It's a rock I found.
Is there a UVB light? No.

What have you been trying to feed it? I feed it pellets.
When was the last time your turtle ate? he's still eating

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 13 gallon
Is the tank near a window? no
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity?no

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

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? He opens his mouth when I pick him up. He's also moving slower than usual. I think my turtle got infected my RI because another of my turtles has RI and I moved him into the sick turtle''s former tank.
______________________
If your water/ basking temp is to low he will not have much energy

[HelpMeHesdying]

Once I buy a water heater, will it cure my sick turtle?

[xd99xd.2]

You should get a heater, but post what the water temperature as it could help.
If it is ri the tank temperature should be a bit higher, cold water could sometimes makes it worse.

[HelpMeHesdying]

You should get a heater, but post what the water temperature as it could help.
If it is ri the tank temperature should be a bit higher, cold water could sometimes makes it worse.

Will this heater work? http://www.amazon.com/Tetra-26445-Aquat ... B000IWXHMI

[HelpMeHesdying]

So my turtle has Respiratory Infection?

[xd99xd.2]

What it sounds like most likely not. Im not that experience but I am trying to help as much as I can. Waiting for someone more experienced.

He probably is not used to his new tank yet and the water may be a bit cold- that would cause him not to eat.

And the noise when you picked him up was he was hissing at you

If he is experiencing any of the symptoms I posted In the frist reply let us know
When you pick him up does he continue to make the noise or only once.

[HelpMeHesdying]

What it sounds like most likely not. Im not that experience but I am trying to help as much as I can. Waiting for someone more experienced.

He probably is not used to his new tank yet and the water may be a bit cold- that would cause him not to eat.

And the noise when you picked him up was he was hissing at you

If he is experiencing any of the symptoms I posted In the frist reply let us know
When you pick him up does he continue to make the noise or only once.

He still eats a lot When I pick him up, he only makes the noise once.

[xd99xd.2]

How active is he? does he do it each time you pick him up?
The hissing noise is caused from the turtle going into its shell fast and the air gets pushed out and that is normal, if you he makes the noise any other time then you have a problem.

[HelpMeHesdying]

How active is he? does he do it each time you pick him up?
The hissing noise is caused from the turtle going into its shell fast and the air gets pushed out and that is normal, if you he makes the noise any other time then you have a problem.

He is very active. He does it every time I pick him up. Sometimes he just opens his mouth. He never makes the noise when I don't pick him up.

[xd99xd.2]

That good then nothing seems worng, he only doing that from being startled.
But as precaution you should get a heater, the one you posted is a bit small its rated for 30gallons you should find one that rates for your tank size and you may need to build a burn guard so he does not burn himself.
And if you if you still have the same water in the tank that had the 5 month turtle in you should do a complete water change and clean the fliter just to be safe