Sorry this is so long. But I could really use some help please! My turtles were given to me last spring by people about to dump them in a local lake where they would likely die, so I decided to put them in my own pond. It's 100' across, 10' deep, mud bottomed. Perfect for hibernation in my opinion, although this isn't as warm a climate as RES's usually live in- I decided it better than a lake.

We had a very cool fall (Sept/Oct) and I noticed the turtles began hibernating early. And now we are having a late spring!!!

So, they have been hibernating from Sept to what will likely be mid-late April. Too long IMO.

I found 3 going for air- in a small spot that had melted- the pond is still frozen. Very slow of course, one I was positive had died until I saw a small leg movement and brought him in.

So I was able to grab 2, brought them indoors and have them in a tub with light and 80F water (48 hour transition, not much shock anyways!)

Anyhow... one is great, but one still can't open it's eyes, is slightly weakened, floats a bit (unevenly), and has a high pitch almost whistle of a wheeze at times (pneumonia, and possible vitiman A difficiency?)

I've given him 2 halibut oil gellcaps today, no other food forcefed.

What to do?? Thanks for any help!

AND aside from the sicko... should I have left these turtles out there? Is it natural to come up for air during hibernation, only to go back to the depths to wait till spring? This is new to me!

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