The car ride may have indeed stressed him a bit, but as for the decrease in appetite; It may be just a loss in appetite/activity due to the cooler weather and the transition of summer into fall. Turtles in the wild, and even those who are in captivity, slow down and may even go into a state of torpor or "suspended animation" (that is, sleep) during the cooler months of the year. In your turtle's case he may just be slowing down in activity/appetite because of his instinctive and natural "biological clock" at work. This shouldn't alarm you but if you are worried that this isn't the case, take him to the vet and have him examined. He may have internal parasites or an intestinal blockage. Have him checked out if you're truly concerned for his health.

As for the oily film on the surface of the water, what do you wash the tank with? If you wash it with soap and water, it may just be residue that has been left behind by the soap. This may be contributing to the reason why he is not eating well. This also can be dangerous if the soap has chemicals that are harmful to herps. And just because it's safe for humans to use doesn't mean it's safe for reptiles and amphibians. I would switch to using an approved tank cleaner such as Zoo Med's Wipe Out Cleaners. They are fantastic cleaners that do a great job of eradicating bacteria and making odors disappear for a clean and healthy environment. I have used them and they work like a charm. They're absolutely fantastic. I hope this helps and keep us updated on the health and well-being of your turtle. Talk to you later.

_Dennis

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