Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My slider is about 3.5 inches long and I have had him for several months in a tank with a few guppies. He seems inactive lately and parts of his shel seem to be "lifting". Please help. Thank you all.

Tell us a little more about your setup. Can't be hibernating, it's a little too late for that. It could be it's too cold in the water. I don't know what you mean by lifting up. The only thing I can think of is when I was cleaning my tank out I let them get some real sun and the fungi on their shell starting flaking off. Again tell us more about your setup.

As turtles grow they shed their scutes. This could be what you are seeing but without a picture I really couldn't tell. As far as the inactivity goes. You need to tell us a little bit more about your setup first.

Thanks. It is in a ten gallon tank about 5/8's full and the water stays at about 75 degrees. There are five guppies in with it. It gets sun through a window by the tank (I am in South Florida) and I take it out in the sun at least once a week for several hours. It has pebbles on the bottom. I feed it shrimp and turtle food and have been changing the water once a week.It has for the last few days been staying on the platform out of the water much less active than the last few months I have had it. I believe it is a male. Its eyes seem closed alot and I have put in drops for a few days. What has me scared is the inactivity and that its shell seems to be "lifting" off it in a few places (slightly) along its natural lines of demarcation. You only notice it when dry. Thanks for all your help---Scott

Hi Scott,

Does the turtle have a basking lamp that heats up his platform to about the high 80's to low 90's? Sunlight through glass is useless for UV radiation as it filters it out. If this is the case try a reptile flourescent light over the tank. Also, aquariums placed in direct sunlight have a tendancy to cook their occupants. Try varying the diet. Use earthworms, quality commercial food, crickets etc. Anything to stimulate it's appetite. RES are mostly carnivorous for the first several monrths of their life. I've usually tried switching over to leafy greens as a component of their diet at about 6 months. Sometimes they take to it, sometimes they don't. If the edges of the scutes are flacking off or curling up it could be signs of a bacterial infection or maybe metabolic bone desease. No way to tell without a picture. The absolute best thing you could do is take it to a vet. No excuses about not enough money or you can't find one in your area etc. It's the best thing you can do for your pet.
Without a vet visit, it's a crap shoot if he gets better or not.
good luck

You need a UVB source like the Reptisun 5.0. The turtle
is getting no UVB through glass of a window. Also, never
put an aquarium (especially a 10 gallon) in direct sunlight
because you will cook your turtle. If your turtle spends
time outdoors you need a larger enclosure with access to
shade and sun.

You should take this guy to the vet for a check. From
what you describe it is difficult to know exactly what is
up with the shell. RES shells will curve up some around
the edges or it could be shedding. Please get it checked
out.

Let us know

I could of sworn I just said that !

n/p

I think the point is that you were parroting what he said. Not that it matters.

you advised. Diagnosis--pneaumonia. A few hundred later---turtle is doing great and now has the set up and diet he needs. Hoping for a long and beautiful friendship. Thanks for the support and urging to take him in despite costs. Scott