All Turtles Message Board

craigking · Guest Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 3

I have a red ear slider in a 30 gallon aqaurium water temp was about 68 tutle climbed up on her rock and has been sleeping for about a week so I put a heater in to bring temp up to about 76 turtle still sleeping about 10 days later I have put him in the water and tried to feed he crawls out and goes back to sleep seems to be hibernating is this normal and if not what do i do? thanks in advance for your help
craig

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

well 68 is definitally not warm enough., you want about 73-77. but if maybe when you arent there he swims, he should get in the water, bewcause without water for 2 weeks i dunno how much longer he could live. e needs to swim in it and drink it

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1227

What is the temp in the basking area? Do you have a uvb bulb aslo?

68 is a bad temp. Commonly refered to as the death zone, it is to warm to hibernate but to cold to stimulate the hunger responce. Kept at long periods at this temp with no way to warm up the turtles can suffer from respitory infections or starvation.

If your turtle is sick and it sounds like he is, you should raise the water temp to the mid 80's. Warmer water jump starts the turtles natural immune system.

Turtles can stay for prolonged periods out of water, a few days. However a turtle absorbs water through its skin to stay hydrated and that is very important for overall health. Also a turtle needs to be in water to swallow its food. Have you checked the water quality? The turtle may be responding to high clorine or amonia levels in the water by staying out.
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craigking · Guest Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 3

yes I do have a uv light and a filtering system I have purchased a better heater got water temp up to 86 and a heat lamp shining on her bed does not seem to be doing much better I place her in the water couple times everyday and try to feed her reptomin she will not eat but she does open her eyes now but not for very long maybe a minute and goes back to sleep I do have a couple goldfish in her tank I thought she would eat them (before she started acting sick) now they seem to nip at her when she is in the water do you think the fish are causing the problem i change the filter about once a week I have made the water a liitle higher so when she is on her rock there is just a little water enough to touch the bottom of her shell but not enough that her face is in the water it has been several weeks since she has eaten I really do not know what to do
thanks again craig

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

how many inches of water do you have? i wouldnt say force her to stay in the water, by taking out the rock, for it is probably unhealthy, and i would take out the goldfish, feeder fish ae preferable, goldfish are unealthy if it eats them

skslover · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:21 pm Post subject:

it may feel lonely and think the rock is its friend and if there are goldfish in there take them out and get fancy guppies or minnows and lots of them they are ok for your turtle to eat and provide great company
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craigking · Guest Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 3

after about 2 1/2 weeks at 84 deg. tutle has perked up swimming around and finally eating she looks great