Turtle Sulfa Block replacement?

Question

I'm trying to help get a pet red ear slider turtle a little healthier (it had been in cool water and was sluggish). I've raised RESs before, but never had one that wasn't healthy. We've slowly warmed the water (over a week) and he is responding well to that. He's eating lots more, and is much perkier.

When we prepared the tank a week and a half ago, I put in a Dr. Turtle Sulfa block (into 15 gal water in a 30 gal tank). It is already gone. With my turtles, I only would put a new one in when i cleaned the water, but since this guy might not be so healthy, should I put a new one in every time the old one disappears? How often ARE you supposed to replace these?

I should have given more details. He was in an aquarium in an abandoned house. the water was so gross that no one realized there was anything in it for weeks (probably thought it was an old fish tank and half the water had evaporated.

He probably did think he was about to hibernate because up here in new england it is getting cooler and the house was about the same temp inside as outside.

his eyes and skin and shell look healthy and now that he is perked up I think he'll be fine, but I just want to make sure we're giving him the best chance possible.

Thanks for your input so far!

Answer 1

Yep, i would replace it a.s.a.p. They do seem to be quite costworthy in pet shops too, you can make them your self. Lst Below:

The calcium blocks that you buy in the store such aswardley and reptograud

are made out of calcium sulfate. calcium salfate is what plaster of paris is made of.

so when 1 of the tablets that you buy in the store cost 2 to 3 dollars. you can buy a box of plaster of paris that will make around 200 of them for 5 bucks.

heres what you will need:
plaster of paris
food coloring
and if you want some vitamin dust
a candy mold i use a turtle one but they make all kinds(fish,trees,stars, hearts ect.)


mix up the plaster of paris add food color and vitamin dust
pour in to your mold
let it sit for a couple hours
take them out of the mold and place on a cookie sheet
bake on 350 for 1 hour depenting on what type of mold you use i would just keep a eye on them so they dont burn ( i wait till i have cooked something then do it after wards to save eleticicy)
there you go you just saved a fortrune

Hope this helps! :-)

And come and join the turtle forum, it great!!

http://www.turtleexchange.com

Answer 2

Don't worry about the sulfa block- they really don't help that much. It is far better to just offer the right temps, clean filtered and heated water, good lighting, and a good diet.

Turtles are so resistant to chemicals that the sulfa probably does not do anything, and it is awfully diluted in a good tank. The same applies to conditioners, calcium blocks, etc.- you jsut don't need them!

You probably already know the good web sites, but for the others:
http://www.redearslider.com and
http://www.austinsturtlepage. com are good places to go.

Answer 3

I replace it whenever it disappears. Just because the turtle was sluggish doesn't mean it was unhealthy, if it was in cool water then it may have been getting ready to hibernate.

Answer 4

You need to check with a vet or with your nearest college of animal medicine.