i have a 21 year old red eared slider and after cleaning her tank last night I noticed she had some sores on her shell and it was bleeding through the cracks. i have two other turtles in the tank with her and they show no sign of illness. Is this due to old age, or can I do something to help her. I have called most the vets in my area and nobody seems to know of anyone who even looks after reptiles, so i need to be able to take care of her myself. Thanks for any info.
2007-02-19 05:14:19 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Remove your turtle immediately from the water
Keep it dry, but to prevent your turtle from dehydrating, you have tp soak them for 30 minutes twice a day. NEVER longer.
Sponge your turtle off with Betadine several times a day.
Keep your turtle warm to dry out the affected area.I suggest a dry aquarium with a sand bottom, a place to hide and a heat rock and/or a place to bask under a heat lamp or regular type of lamp that lets off large amounts of heat.
Keep that tank and the tank your other turtles are in clean and clean the other turtles' tank immediately upon the removal of the injured turtle, sterilizing well to prevent spread of bacteria and/or infection!!!
2007-02-19 05:23:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sores? Are they like cracks, or worn through areas, or damaged scutes, etc?
Older turtles have thinner, more fragile shells that succumb to trauma easier, especially if there have been problems with calcium systems in the past.
Dry tanking is the right answer... except it is pretty stressful. With an older turtle, I'd avoid it if possible. Is it openly bleeding, or just seeping? I'd dry-tank for an active bleed, but if it is just a minor seep, I'd treat by cleaning the shell, using anti-biotic on the wounds, then return it to water after about an hour. (I'd give the water a good cleaning as well.)
2007-02-19 18:35:08 · answer #2 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's a website with links to turtle "medical information" and turtle "vet listings" by state: http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/ Take her out of the water and keep her in a dry area for now. What you describe can be a serious situation. Hope she gets better for you.
2007-02-19 14:12:23 · answer #3 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think for now i would put some neosporin on the cracks that are bleeding, just to be safe. Lots of things, including old age, could have caused the cracks. You really need to find a vet who specializes in exotics because they're the only ones who'll do anything for your turtle.
When i had my big snakes and they would get sick my vet used to give me this blue liquid to put in their water and they would always clear up and get better. I don't remember the name but it was some kind of antibiotic.
Good luck, hope you get him fixed up!
2007-02-19 13:22:43 · answer #4 · answered by Kimberly P 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Perhaps they are injuries? You've called the vet, but have you taken the turtle to one? After all, the shell is part of a turtle's skeleton...
2007-02-19 13:22:11 · answer #5 · answered by Judgerz 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the thing i know best about turtles is to try to keep their shells dry or else youll get shellrot.
2007-02-19 16:53:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
were u can buy stuff at walmart to put in there cage.
2007-02-19 13:33:23 · answer #7 · answered by kayeebabi 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋