Reptile & Amphibian Forums

9 inches x 6 inches turtle. always had huge appetite, begs like a dog....until now. Her appetite started to decline and recently she does not want to eat at all. She still eats here and there but with no enthusiasm.

She will not eat any veggies at all. Sniffs her favorites and declines. Today my wife tried pellets. And said the turtle was caughing them up like she had a sore throat. I suggested tuna fish because it's soft. She went for the tuna, ate some, but not quite like the old days.

Water temp is 84 degrees. Our apt. gets a bit cold at night though, down to 62.

She needs to see a vet. Not eating isn't a disease itself it's the symptom of disease.
It could be anything from bacterial infection to parasite infection but for one to suddenly stop eating, that's your blaring neon sign to see a good reptile vet.
Good luck with her!
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PHRatz

thanks,

then vet it is...

>>thanks,
>>
>>then vet it is...

Great!
I know sometimes people feel like maybe they're overreacting, maybe they're making too much of something.. like maybe there's nothing all that wrong. They feel awkward about possibly wasting the vet's time.
In this case I think no, it's time to do it & any good vet would not be annoyed over it. The sooner you get it done, the sooner the turtle will feel better & the less the vet bill will be.
Good luck & let us know what happens!
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PHRatz

I took the turtle to the vet and it turns out she's not sick, but ready to lay eggs. Vet said she is very healthy and even a bit on the heavy side, so even if she goes a month without eating it would be natural.

Also, does eat a bit here and there, and vet said if she stops eating completely then it could be serious.

She is also beginning to display egg laying behaviour. Really wants to come out of the aquarium bad in the morning. We let her out and she goes over to the rug and sort of starts digging. I bought some sand and tray but she climbs right out of that. Prefers to dig in the rug.

One more question: Is there any way to help facilitate the egg laying process? She won't go for sand. Anything else I should try, or just let her figure it out on her own?