All Turtles Message Board

Maffiosi · Level 1 Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 5

I'm new to the boards and came here because there's something wrong with my turtle.

When i was replacing the water of the aquarium i noticed that my turtle was lying on the bottom, with no activity.
When i took him up, he didn't responded like he used to (moving his legs and arms, looking around with his head) and his eyes stayed closed. His head, legs and arms were just hanging, not moving. Before i noticed he was eating a lot lesser.
I placed him in the sink to (thinking the worst) see if he was dead. I turned on the water and there was some activity (he pulled his arms in). I did it some time later, and he moved a little. But he still didn't open his eyes, nor moved anything else.

My father then put some water on him from time to time, and i went replacing the water of the aquarium.
Now the aquarium was clean again, i put him back in the aquarium and filled it with water slowely. When it was filled, he pushed himself up on the front of his legs, but laid himself down a few seconds afterwards. Some minutes later he even changed his direction 45°. I have putten some food in the aquarium but he didn't ate it.

What could this be; is he sleeping really hard (because it's winter; however the watertemperature didn't drop below 80 fahrenheit)? Or has he passed away?

Should I take him to a vetrenarian if he isn't better tomorrow?

Edit: ps. He's around 18 years old, male and a red ear slider.

dixieee · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:09 am Post subject:

welcome to the board..i'm sorry for ur turtle especially if u've had him since 18 years, i don't even wanna think of the options Exclamation

i hope he's not dying of old age but did u notice anything weird like gasping or listing sideways while swimming..? check with the vet if he's not better by now.

i really hope he's ok..good luck and keep us posted plz
_________________
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

Maffiosi · Level 1 Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 5

I got him when i was about 4-5years old, now i'm 17.

And yes, he was making coughingsounds. Tomorrow I'm calling a vet, and visit him if he says to.

I placed my turtle near a radiator in a little bit of water, he made some movements since then.

P.s. Thanks to the person that put the link to ARAV on the site, it got me on the way to find a vet near my town (in Belgium).

dixieee · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject:

coughing ok that explains it..good luck and 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

Maffiosi · Level 1 Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 5

Basje (that's his name, it's a dutch name) passed away in the night of 29 january.

My father called a vet in the morning of 30 january. The vet told him to put him on his back, to check if he made any movements, he didn't.
Later that day my father took him to the vet. The vet said he probably died of old age; with the weaker immunesystem they get from getting old, any thing can make them really sick.
He hardly saw RES's get older then 14 (in 'prisonship'), so I'm happy for the extra 4 years I got to spend with him.

I will always remember the time when I was imitating his swimming in front of the aquarium (making little movements with my hands, acting like I was swimming), he was eventually following me.

dixieee · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 2:11 pm Post subject:

that's right think of the 4 extra years. they say RES's live up to 20-25 years but of course they could die of old age any earlier. i'm sorry for ur loss but hey, u've got many nice memories and years with him. Basje is in turtle heaven now taking care of the younger ones 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

centex · Level 3 Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 319

Hey with the end of ones life another begins...what better way to cheer yourself up than getting another baby RES to raise and create new memories for years to come!!!