All Turtles Message Board

maratheartist · Level 1 Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 13

Last time I posted, I had a sick turtle who died in my hands. The next week we were graced with a new 1 month-old RES. Now, HE has stopped eating and has no interest in much of anything. I couldn't get Elliot to the vet back then, but this time, I'm not taking any chances. Mr. E is taking his first trip to the vet. It may be nothing and I truly can't afford it, but...well you understand...better be safe than sorry. Razz

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject:

Good luck with the vet, I hope it is nothing serious. Very Happy

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maratheartist · Level 1 Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 13

As it turns out, it was pretty serious. He IS respiratory and is on Baytril now. He is too small to have it injected, so I have to give him a tiny dose every day which he hates and has taken his own sweet time in reacting to. He actually throws some of it back up and has not eaten since last Wednesday. So, I am now hand feeding him worms, chicken baby food, and electrolytes liquified in the blender. He still does not like the whole process (who does???), but the vet has prescribed a second medicine I am going to pick up today, and we are going back to the vet tomorrow for more tests. He may have to be tube fed until he starts to eat again on his own. Thankfully, though, he still seems relatively active in the water (considering) and basks on his dock.

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject:

If he eats the worms, I would suggest to inject the worms instead of trying to have him take it orally by itself. Very Happy

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maratheartist · Level 1 Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 13

I am putting it into his mouth with a non-needle syringe a tiny bit at a time. It is hard to get it to stay in him though. He is still too small for an injection.

maratheartist · Level 1 Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 13

Mr. E has pulled through! After a traumatizing round of shots that I had to administer each day as well as orally delivered medicine, Mr. E is eating twice a day again and swimming like a mad man. I can't say how relieved we are and just in time for school to start again.

Also, the vet gave me list of foods (earthworms, pinkies, Japanese goldfish food, certain cat foods, etc...) that he should be eating instead of what the pet-store people told me to feed him (just crickets). So, his diet has changed and it turns out that now he doesn't even like what he used to eat!

As a celebration (and a tribute to all the weight and size he has gained back in the last 2 weeks), we are getting him a larger tank this weekend with new heaters and lamp.

Yeah!!!!!

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 207

"just crickets?" Ewwww. Though I'm not for feeding turtles pinkies. They sure as heck wouldn't eat mice in the wild. Pre-processed turtle food like reptomin is a good staple, probably better than cat food. =)

Great to hear the guy has pulled through and is doing well! What a lucky turtle.

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:34 am Post subject:

Good to hear your guy made it. Very Happy

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maratheartist · Level 1 Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 13

Is Reptomin a pellet? The vet suggested that pellets were not as good as previously thought. I'd like to know what types of foods everyone else feeds their guys...

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 207

Reptomin is a pellet and most sources have it as one of the "good" ones. The thing with pellets is not too use ONLY pellets. How much of pellets and what brands is a source of debate amongst turtle owners. Personally I have a big disagreement with your vet about feeding turtles pinkie mice - turtles are not eating mice in the food chain. That is absolutely unnatural, even arguing that a captive turtle's diet is never perfectly 'natural.' And I have a difficult time believing that cat food is better than pellets formulated specifically for turtles.

That said, your vet got your guy healthy and certainly gave you some good advice - and he had way better advice than the pet store you got the turtle from (just crickets? Yikes). But it is good to do additional research on your own regarding these issues.

www.austinsturtlepage.com www.tortoisetrust.org www.petturtle.com and of course google.

thudak734 · Level 1 Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 21

i've been feeding my razorback musk (water turtle) reptomin pellets for over a year now. he loves them. i also get him goldfish to eat.