1inch turtle problems! HELP!!?

Question

Ok. Got a 1 inch to 2inch turtle, red eared slider. Hes been acting weird. I have the UVA/UVB light, basking area, water at a good temp. I feed him more than just lettuce, I feed him ZooMed Aquatic Turtle Yummies, Cooked Chicken, ZooMed Can-O-Shrimp, and Lettuce too. But since yesterday, hes been sleeping a lot, and hes less active. I even picked him up once, and he didnt wiggle like usual, and he layed in my hand. He does move, but little, and I think his eyes are still closed. I have been keeping really good care of him, I really dont know whats wrong, and if this is normal. Also, do turtles have a clear thing on there eye-lid when they close there eyes? Mine seems to have a weird thing over his eye when its closed, like, you can see his pupil, but theres a skin layer over it, thats really thin, but he does open his eyes and it not there. So please, I need help, and some answers! THANK YOU!

Also...I heard Red Eared Sliders sleep underwater at night. Mine sleeps on land, never in water!

Are you kidding. I have been keeping gooood care of it. Before I got one, I read in weeks about taking care of one. I clean its tank a lot, Monday, Wed, Fri. I feed it a proper diet. I have a UVB light for him, and a uva light. I have a basking spot. I have everything it needs. I keep the water perfect. The land perfect. I dont know whats wrong. I have had him for a week, and since yesterday, hes been like that. Its nothing I have done.

I only fed him lettuce once. He eats the Shrimp, and the chicken. He doesnt care for the yummies that much. The tank is 10 gallons, and I will move up when it gets bigger. The water usualy stays around 76 or 78. When I clean it, I do disinfect it.

My turtle is fine. Infact the vet said he has a strong shell.

Answer 1

Sale of turtles less than 4 inches is not against "the law". It is a federal regulation ( administrative ) applicable only to those in the pet trade business, such as pet stores. If you got your turtle from an individual breeder or amatuer keeper who does not specifically go to shows, have a store front to sell them from etc., then it is legal...though I don't advise ANY inexperienced person get a baby turtle. They have too many needs and too much can go wrong, as evidenced here.

First off, what you need is a VET. The turtle does not have time for you to figure this out by internet. It will likely die before that.

Yes, turtles have a nictating membrane, that is like a sideways eyelid which further protects the eyes.

Depending on how long you have had it, you either bought a sick turtle, OR, more than likely, there is something wrong with your husbandry practices. Based on this limited information there is too may things it could be: like respiratory infection, irritant in the tank/filthy tank, impaction, improper diet, lack of enough UVB, or improper temps. THAT'S WHY YOU NEED A VET, not the internet.

A turtle that keeps it's eyes closed and is not active-not eating, is very sick, and only has a few days or so to live. By the time a less experienced person notices the signs of illness, many times it is too late if you don't get to a vet right away. Reptiles mask signs of illness til the last minute so as to to show weakness to predators.

You can look at sites like http://www.anapsid.org/mainchelonians, and http://www.austinsturtlepage
for more husbandry info...but that is only IN ADDITION to getting to a vet right away. If you can't afford the vet, then honestly, you can't afford a turtle.

Answer 2

This sounds like an eye infection, which is usually teh result of a problem in husbandry.

I know you are claiming perfect cares, but I see a few flaws in your program as you described it.

1. Diet- get rid of the lettuce. Baby Red-ears don't eat hardly any greens, and they do not have the vitamins and nutrients the turtle needs at this stage. Save yourself some money and drop the Yummies as well. Try about 1/2 good pellets (Mazuri is a favorite) and the other half live or frozen/thawed 'fish food' like krill (a huge favorite!), shrimp, worms, bugs, etc.

Chicken is OK, but only OK- beef heart is better if you want to use meat. Can-O stuff is OK, but live or frozen/thawed is better.

2. Water temps- you dont mention them or a heater. If the turtle is staying in the warm spot, this suggests that the rest of the tank is too cool. Aim for water temps in the 75-80F range.

3. Eye covering sounds like the film that develops in the eye infection.

4. Water quality is a big part of eye infection. Just dumping and refilling water does not get rid of chemicals, etc. in the substrate and on the surfaces. Also, if you are changing the water that often, it implies that the water space is rather small.

You should have a BIG space for the turtle, 10 gallons of water is OK fo a tiny baby, but it will need more soon. You should also be running a good filter (nice and big) and sucking off the crud off the bottom and changing 1/4th fo the water weekly.

5. The actual care for eye infections is to a. fix the care issues involved, b. improve the diet, c. reduce the stress (changing water all the time is hugely stressful, as is holding it), and d. bump water temps up about 5 degrees.

It will take a few days to a week to see any results, and it can take a month to get over. You can sometimes improve things by using either a turtle sulfa dip' or 'stress coat' for fish. The better cares are the key, however.

Answer 3

Well, you need to take him to a vet or he may die. Also, I believe turtles have a protective lense over their eyes.

Also, sale of sliders under 4 inches is illegal I believe. Did you find him or was he sold to you?


"Sick turtles should be kept warm. The best temperature range in most cases is between 27-30 degrees Centigrade. At these temperatures the animal's own immune system is able to function at peak efficiency. It is more important to maintain hydration than to worry unduly about force feeding solid foods. Dehydrated turtles are at serious risk (from renal complications). Even emaciated animals require rehydration and a restoration of renal function before they require force feeding.
Sick turtles may not be able to swim properly. They can even drown. Keep water levels low and make sure that the turtle can leave the water easily if it wishes to.
If an infectious disease is suspected, isolate the animal immediately. Keep a spare tank on hand for this purpose in case it is ever required. Pay special attention to hygiene in such cases and use an approved surgical hand cleaner (such as 'Betadine' povidone-iodine solution).
The key to the successful treatment of reptiles is accurate diagnosis followed appropriate medication. Do not engage in guess-work but always seek expert advice from a qualified source."

Please look at this page

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/res.html

Answer 4

You are not feeding it properly.
Stop feeding lettuce and cooked chicken.
Wild red ears are primarily insectivorous as babies.
Feed it small earthworms, insects, and very small minnows. Kill the minnows first so the turtle can catch them.
The "clear thing" on the eye is normal, it is called the nictitating membrane.
Based on your description of the turtle's behavior, though, he may be too far gone to save at this point.

Answer 5

take it easy, your turtle will be fine. he sounds normal. keep in mind a 1 inch slider is a very tiny baby turtle. treat it like you would any other baby animal, but too much handling attention and changing its environment will stress that little guy out. by the way, it sounds like you're overfeeding. a very common mistake. only feed him what he will eat in about 5 minutes. i do that about twice a day.

Answer 6

Baby sliders make bad pets. Most of them die even with the best of care. Something to do with the conditions most people breed them, like turtle farms.

Answer 7

it could be just hibernating. [[remember is a reptile]] {do you have the temp. kind of like 50 degrees? if the water is kind of cold then they slip into hibernation} and yes its instinct for them to grow that lens thingy over their eyes because if they were in the wild they would normally hibernate in the mud and need tthat as protection for their eyes.

go to a vet because if it hibernating then it should be in water ....