Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 12:43 am My turtle is choking on sludge!
I've been ice fishing and trying to get rid of dead minnows by feeding them to Skipper (MISTAKE!) she hasn't been eating and she seems to have trouble breathing and closes her eyes way more often than normal. I took her out of her tank to see what has happened, and I figure she might be choking on a fish, so I opened her mouth to try and pull it out, but I see something arguably worse; a coating of yellow-brown sludge covering the inside of her mouth. It comes close to completely separating the mouth from the throat but there is a tiny gap in the back of her mouth for air to pass through if it needs to. The sludge looks similar to minnow guts, but I don't see any bones, scales, or skin. Only sludge that looks like the intestines of a small animal. She has also exhibited loud open-mouth breathing. It is very hard to photograph the inside of a turtle's mouth. I'm sorry.
How big is your turtle? 7-8 in.
How long have you had it? around 3 years
What is the water temperature? 80 degrees Fahrenheit
Did you use a thermometer? no, it's what I have the heater set to.
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? approx. 70 gal.
Are you using a water conditioner? yes
Are you using any filtration? yes, canister.
What is the basking temperature? around 80 degrees.
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? Plastic, turtle topper.
Is there a UVB light? Yes, recently replaced.
What have you been trying to feed it? Pellets, dead minnows.
When was the last time your turtle ate? 3-4 days ago.
How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 75 gal.
Is the tank near a window? Yes.
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? No; I didn't know what to search for.
Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? Bizarre wheezing, sounds like a dog. Eyes closed, sleeping at the surface with nose above water, unusual passiveness (no intentional biting/scratching when handled, won't hold up own weight on front two legs)
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