All Turtles Message Board

Danica · Level 1 Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 23

Hey everyone, this is my first time on a message board of any kind, so I'm not too confident about how it works...but, I'm hoping you guys can help me.
I got a RES from a friend in another city, and it was shipped through the mail...wierd, I know. He is very small, and I don't know how old he is, but he's only about 2 inches long.
At first, I was having a really hard time getting him to eat. After about a week, he finally started eating. Then, after about 2 weeks of eating fine, he all of a sudden stopped eating and won't open his eyes. When I hold him, he is pretty active, but other than that, he just sits in the same spot all day. I am really worried about his not eating and that he won't open his eyes. Do you think he is sick?
Please help me...he is so little and I feel really bad that I don't know how to help him. Oh! He also does this thing...when i go up to his tank and talk to him, he sticks his neck out really far and open and closes his mouth, but still won't open his eyes. Anyway, sorry this was so long, I'm just worried. Thanks for any information or suggestions you can give me!
-Danica

dixieee · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:22 am Post subject:

welcome to the board danica Smile

i'm sorry to say that ur little guy sounds to have some kind of illness (early stages of respiratory infection RI). what is ur setup like? do u have all the needed lights (heat and UV)? what are the temps in there?

ok first for the eyes, u'll have to expose him to direct sunlight, that'll help with his eyes. then get him special eye drops or if u don't find, u can get normal human eye drops from the pharmacy but make sure it's ok to be used on animals. another option would be getting cod liver oil tablets and breaking them in a half, take out the liquid and rub it gently on his eyes with a clean cloth. i tried something else once, get some tea and do the same with it but it should be of tap temperature (not hot).

2nd, ur turtle is gasping for air and the best thing to do in this case is take him to a vet ASAP, until u get an appointment and do so, take him out of water and put him under the heat and UV lamps. then soak him every 2-3 hours for 30 min. in warm water (low 90's F) so he could do whatever they do in water and the most important things is to try getting him eat again. offer him smelly things like tuna, cooked chicken or turkey...

one more that the vet told me about and u could do too, get 1 liter of water and mix it with like 3 tbsp of salt then soak ur turtle in it for 2-3 minutes/day (not more).

i hope he gets better soon, good luck and keep us posted (plz don't hesitate taking him to the vet)
_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

Danica · Level 1 Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 23

Thank you so much for your reply. First of all here is my setup: I have a 10 gallon tank with a big rock and a cave on the left side of the tank. The bottom is covered with blue and green pebbles and there are some fake flowers and lillie pads that float around. For his heat source I have one of those flat hearters that you stick on the wall of the tank under the water. I have a thermometer that is out of the water (stuck on the inside wall) and another thermometer that measures the tempeture in the water. both the air and the water stays between 70-80 degrees. The light that I have is both UVA and UVB, its one of the coil lights and it rests on the lid of the tank right over the rock where he basks.
As far as his eyes, I have some Zoo Med turtle eye drops that just started using the other day but it hasn't helped yet, however I haven't been very regular with doing it. Then, I also have this Zoo med turtle sulfa dip, which would be like what you said about soaking him in salt water, but I've only used it once, so I guess I'll do that on a regular basis.
The other thing is that you said he might have a RI, that really worries me, plus I keep his tank so clean...but, I'll get him to the vet ASAP, if I can find one that does turtles...?
Thank you soooo much for your help. His name is Toby, by the way. Very Happy

dixieee · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:32 pm Post subject:

toby, cute Very Happy

ok sounds like ur setup has everything needed. and u should use the medicines regularly so improvement could take place. here's a list for vets by state and i'll add another one when i find it http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/vetlisting.htm

keep us posted Smile

_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

Danica · Level 1 Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 23

Thanks so much!

dixieee · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:37 am Post subject:

anytime

_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

Danica · Level 1 Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 23

So I did a bunch of research on RES respiratory infections, and have decided that Toby definately has one. I am planning on taking him to the vet tomorrow. I was just curious if I will get in trouble because he is under the legal size of 4 inches... they won't take him away from me will they? Please let me know asap! Crying or Very sad

dixieee · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:54 am Post subject:

no they'll give him back to u better than b4 Smile

the law applies on selling turtles not on taking them to the vet

good luck with ur appointment, keep us posted
_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

Danica · Level 1 Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 23

Well, thank you for your speedy reply. Unfortunately, Toby didn't make it through the night. Last night I could tell that he was getting pretty bad so I sat up with him throughout most of the night because I knew we were going to take him to the vet today. But, Toby was too little and too sick, I guess. Thank you for all of your help though, I really appreciate it.
-Danica Crying or Very sad

dixieee · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:01 am Post subject:

oh no i thought things were going to get better Exclamation

i'm so sorry for ur loss but it's for toby's own good. he's in turtles' heaven swimming in the lakes now
_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:31 am Post subject:

I am sorry that Toby didn't make it. Sad

It is sad to hear about a turtle not making it. Sad

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ZeRo LiMiTz7 · Level 2 Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 40

sorry about you lost i recently lost my RES to a respiratory infection also except i had him for about a year and 3 months and he was about 3 inches