Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,
I've posted here many times, and I have one of my first real emergencies... Today one of my 4 hatchlings (7 mos old) started acting very strangely. He's been walking in circles and gaping his mouth widely to the sides ("biting" the air) - his eyes are partially closed and the sides of his head look puffy. Last night I gave them some steamed asparagus and strawberries (trying to teach them to eat a wide variety of foods) - all of the turtles tried it and no one else is experiencing any ill effects. Is asparagus poisonous to turtles??? I looked it up on the internet (CTT) but found nothing.

Also, he keeps flipping himself over onto his back and walking with his legs WAY out to his sides. In case this in infectious, I have removed him from the large tank with the other babies and placed him in another room in a warm holding tank with a light and damp paper towel. I tried to put some bedding in there with him, but he keeps eating it when he gapes his mouth (and he does this incessantly), so paper towel it is.
Also, I completely cleaned out the shared tank and put the other babies on paper towels until I can get them fresh bedding.

The earliest I can get this baby to the vet is tomorrow morning... In the meantime, as anyone ever experienced anything like this??? I thought maybe he has some sort of ear infection effecting his equilibrium, but I dont see any sweeling on the ears themselves - just the "cheeks", and this bow-legged walking has me concerned.

HELP!!!

Any info you could provide I'd really appreciate!!!

Lisa
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1.0.0 Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
0.1.0 Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
1.2.5 Eastern Box Turtles: Dozer, Daisy, Speedbump, Magnum and 4 hatchlings
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider: Rosie

Let me give you some info on the care he's received:

Housing: 10 gallon tank with 3 other hatchlings from his clutch (upgrading soon)

Humidity/Water: Entire tank is misted twice a day. Constant access to fresh water in a shallow bowl - daily "soaking" outside of the cage in warm water

Lighting/Heat: UVB bulb, temps are between high 70s, mid 80s

Food: wide variety of fruits and veggies, small insects, baby turtle floating sticks (wet), adult box turtle pellets (wet), etc (I try to give them a huge variety now so when they are older they will eat anything)

Overall, my ailing baby has received exactly the same care as the other box turtles and all the others are doing well.

I am taking him to the vet first thing in the morning - in the meantime I am keeping him warm, moist and isolated.

What else can I do to help him recover???
Does anyone have any idea what is causing this???
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1.0.0 Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
0.1.0 Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
1.2.5 Eastern Box Turtles: Dozer, Daisy, Speedbump, Magnum and 4 hatchlings
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider: Rosie

Hi All,
Unfortunately, Baby Murdock died 5 minutes before I picked him up from the vet. The vet determined that he had some sort of neurological issue, although he wasnt sure if it was due to a developmental abnormality in the brain, or an infection. When the baby arived at the vet in the AM, they gave him some fluids (he was very dehydrated), a B12 shot, and some antibiotics. They said he perked up throughout the day but was still showing his dramatic neurological signs. Then, he just walked over to the corner of his hospital tank, and fell asleep. Poor little guy.

I went home and dsinfected the entire tank and have been watching th ebabies very carefully ever since. Thus far, none of the other hatchlings have shown any signs of this ailment. Has anyone ever heard of behavior like this??? What could have caused this 7 mos old to act so strangely and then die within 24 hours of showing symptoms?

RIP Murdock.

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1.0.0 Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
0.1.0 Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
1.2.5 Eastern Box Turtles: Dozer, Daisy, Speedbump, Magnum and 4 hatchlings
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider: Rosie

Sorry to hear this. I'm no expert, and I have no experience with the symptoms you described. I wish you good luck with the remaining turtles you have.......
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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

Vichris Variables

Very sorry for your loss. A certain percentage of baby anything will have developemental issues that don't always show up immediately, then all of a sudden one day it catches up and sometimes its fatal, it's part of the deal when you breed animals of any kind, a sad but true part of life.
Again sorry for your loss, I'm sure it was nothing you did wrong and the other siblings will likely be fine, so don't beat yourself up over this or change anything with the other siblings care.
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com