small turtle got stuck under a floating rock and started to drown is there anything i can do to get water out?

Answer 1

Reptiles and particularly turtles can go for a long time without oxygen and can be saved quite a while after drowning. Many aquatic turtles can derive oxygen from the water through their cloaca. Even if it appears dead, the turtle may just be waiting to be saved, and needs your help. So don't assume it is dead too soon.
First, if it has aspirated on water, turn it head down and hold it in this position to help the water flow out of the lungs. While you are doing this, get a helper to pump the rear legs in and out. Turtles use their internal organ and muscle tissue to help breathe as they do not have diaphragms, so moving the legs in and out will help expel water and drawn in air. You can also try gently extending the head out, and then getting the turtle to duck back in quickly, or gently push it back in toward the shell. This will further help expel the water. If the turtle is responsive and alert, it will probbaly make it with just a little help. What water you can't get out, the turtle can expel most of it on it's own if it is alert.
If it recovers and becomes responsive, you need to make sure it is under basking heat.
Next step if it survives, you need to take it to a reptile vet for systemic antibiotics, as the remaining water will likely cause a respiratory infection if not treated, and this could eventually kill it.

Answer 2

Turtles can hold their breath for a long time so I can't be sure if your turtle actually drowned-hopefully you have no gravel in that tank (caused fatal impactions). It sounds like you are talking about the zoomed floating dock-if it got stuck in the black bars that is dangerous.

To get the water out of the tank use an aquarium siphon, however, if your turtle needs water out of it well here is what you need to do...

"If your turtle has drowned, it may be unconscious and still alive. Do not turn your RES upside down because that may cause whatever remaining oxygen to escape. Do not attempt to force your RES to move or place it back into the in water."

"First and foremost: NEVER TURN THE TURTLE/TORTOISE ON ITS BACK. Turning it on his back might remove the little airspace still left in the lungs.


Grasp the turtle's head behind the ears (base of skull) and extend the neck completely.
Turn it head-down/tail up and open its mouth. Usually, some water will flow or drip out at this point. Wait until the dripping stops.
Place the turtle (belly down) on a flat surface with its neck extended. Stand in front of the turtle.
Straighten his front legs and pull them straight toward you as far as they will go.
Keeping the legs straight, push them in as far as they will go. Do not let the legs bend at the elbows.
Continue pulling and pushing until water stops coming out."

Visit this link for more help http://www.redearslider.com/major_illnesses_injuries.html

Good luck.

Answer 3

First of all, be ready to have a fairly high maintenance pet. They are pretty messy ( food debris and feces all collect in the same water), so will need to change the water every few days, even with filters. Plastic storage bins are okay...untill the turtle gets too big...they need quite a bit of room, and along with water should have a dry basking area. Red eared sliders are quite common and inexpensive, although please dont go asking pet store employees for advice as they are often part time employees not specializing in reptiles ( i once went into a pet store pretending to know nothing....ended being told that RES live max 25 yrs, can live their whole lives in a 30 gallons aquarium...etc). Anapsid is a good site for reptile info. you will need a basking light, and a UV light to simulate the sun, especially if your turtle doesnt get much outdoor time.With my turtle i always have two filters going, that way i clean one at a time, leaving a type of biological filter.

Answer 4

Not much.You can try holding him with his head pointing down and gently tapping his shell to try and bring some of the water up,but turtles can't cough,so it will probably die,or get pneumonia,in which case you need to take it to a vet for antibiotics.You never know,though,it might be OK.

Answer 5

GET THE TURTLE OUT!!!

Answer 6

Get a cup ANYTHING!!!!!!!!! SAVE IT NOW IT COULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW IF U R ON YAHOO!

Answer 7

wow take your hand put it in the water and pick it up!?!?!