My 14 year hold RES used to swim around more when food pellets are dropped and stimulus like finger against the glass. In the recent week, she's not responded so much. She does eat but it's a maybe 20% of what she usually does. The rest of the time she spends ~8 hours basking in the lights or resting in the partially submerged platform. Does this count as lethargic?
This is the first time she's not completely eaten the food dropped into the tank. When I look up "why is my turtle not eating", there's many reasons that come up and I'm not sure which one might be the cause so I'm basically trying all the things.
Things I'm trying now:
1. Water test strips: found high level of nitrate. I've started treatment with Tetra Balance Plus. Also 25% water change x2 this week. Cleaned the filter. I had a couple java ferns in the tank before too and just recently took them out in case they were causing the problem
2. Treating for shell rot - taking turtle out and cleaning shell with betadine everyday. Have been doing this for close to a week now. Interestingly, when she's out into a tub for betadine wipe and drying under the lamps, she's pretty active in clawing around. When I apply the betadine with a paper, pieces of shell sometimes comes off, is that normal shedding?
3. Added some feeder minnows - there's one site that said maybe she's bored of her food and she's reacted with excitement with live fish in the past so I thought I'd try that
4. Added 1 calcium block to the tank this week
Attached 2 photos in case the appearance helps with figuring out what might be bothering her
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!