Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had a RES for about 15 years and recently acquired a baby (about 1.5" about two months ago. She was vivacious with an incredible appetite up til a few days ago. She would devour frozen Blood Worms like a 5 year old eats chocolate, usually three times a day, sometimes four. She would let us know when she was hungry by swimming vigorously/spasticly at the side of the tank that faced the Kitchen, where her feeding tank is. It's like she knew if she swam so fastinto the glass at the side of the tank facing the Kitchen, she was going to eat. Anyways, a few days ago, she stopped eating completely. She basks all day and she has started to do this wierd Yawn and Stretch thing recently. She would swell up the bottom of her neck and stretch it way out, then open her mouth wide like she is trying to say something. Sometimes she would make a squeeking sound and a few times she sneezed. Her water is immaculately clean with two running filters at all times (only a 10 Gallon Tank), and it's temperture is well maintained around 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit (That's a tough word to spell). We feed her in a small feeding tank where we can keep it clean at all times. She usually goes in her small tank and attacks the food (Blood Worms) like if she was starving, even though she may have eaten only a few hours earlier. But now all that has changed and prompted me to seek this forum out for help. I went to a Pet Store and they recommended I put one capsule of Tetracycline (Anti-Biotics) in the water every other day, changing the water between treatments. Now she is getting lathargic and I fear that she may get worse if I don't do something soon.

Please advise ASAP! Thanx

I should also mention that the water level is only a few inches high with lots of flat rocks to bask on or hide under. I've also tried to force feed her, but she constantly spits the food out. I've been extremely careful with her cause we lost another baby that we adopted about two years ago to an illness. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to not have that experience again. That death crush my Wife and sent her into a depression for weeks... I was down for awhile as well... I'm man enough to admit it.

I'm ready to run her to the Vet if you think that will help.

Thanx for reading my post.

Unfortunatley I do not know exactly what is wrong. I will comment on some things though...

"It's like she knew if she swam so fastinto the glass at the side of the tank facing the Kitchen, she was going to eat"

Well yea..! Turtles love to beg... if their hungry, we really don't know, but you said you fed her 3-4 times a day... bloodworms nontheless... and I think thats way too much. Not to mention a hassle. Is your turtle overweight? Maybe some measurements of her so people on this board can evaluate... and check if her "arms" are bulgy, normal, or skinny. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be skinny. I fed my 2 male RES once a day or even every other day when they were that age. And I fed them different stuff, not just worms. When their young I found they tend to enjoy meats and pellets rather then vegetables, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't offer it to them

Her temperature seems a bit high.. you say 80-85 degrees, well which one is it? 80 would be the highest I would put it... of course shes young so its not too much of a problem. Do you notice her basking when there is no basking light on? Perhaps the temperature is too hot - maybe lower it to 75.

Speaking of temperatures.. perhaps the air temperature isn't warm enough? Not really a issue I've experienced since sometimes I notice my RES just want a colder area to stay in... but make sure there is no wind coming in. That's primary what gets them sick, and I hope your RES isn't sick.. it didn't sound like a respitory infection but then again I've only heard of stories of those online..

As for your petstore, its pretty convenient the solution equals you buying stuff from them, right? I never heard of what their selling and chances are its not the solution. If you said your water is fine and clear, then don't buy whatever their selling you.

Then again it might just be a natural thing. My RES stop eating around December and start again around now (February). Thats 2 months without food, they don't look any skinnier, they bask often without the basking light on, but they are still active and healthy. So that sounds like strange behavior but mine have been doing it since i"ve had them - 7 or 8 years ago.. every year no exception

We tried feeding her Repto-Min and Plankton, but she won't eat it. She only likes the Blood Worms. There is no doubt that there is something wrong with her. She looks sluggish and now she doesn't even jump in the water when I approach her tank. She is definately suffering from some ailment that I have no idea what to do. The reason I bought and used the Anti-Biotics is cause they have more knowledge and experience at the pet store than I do. For $5 I didn't just purchase Tetracycline, but also some hope and since I didn't know about this forum, that's all I could go on. I am a very skeptical man, and I could sence when someone is giving me a sales pitch or not. I wonder what you would reccommend if you worked at a Pet Shop, and would your advice be for nothing also. I find it hard to believe that all Pet Store owners purposely give misinformation, desquised as hope, only to make a buck or two. There is no wind that goes into the tank and she only basks when she wants to. She usually sleeps thru the night and basks in natural sunlight during the day and when I turn on her Basking Lamp. Her size is still rather small although she did grow taller and slight wider. She does not seem to be overweight and until recently she was vivacious and full of life. This is why I think that there is something wrong with her. I've had a RES since 1987, Duphus, and he's doing great. The two don't know each other exist yet, cause I have never put them together.

Thanx for the reply... any other helpful info would be appreciated!

"We tried feeding her Repto-Min and Plankton, but she won't eat it. She only likes the Blood Worms. "

Are you saying that all this turtle ever eats is bloodworms? If so, Id say besides the resp infection and pneumonia people are talking about, your turtle probly has a serious vitamin deficiency.

You said the RES eats bloodworms like chocolate, imagine a kid that only eats chocolate and youll see the problem.
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>> Anyways, a few days ago, she stopped eating completely. She basks all day and she has started to do this wierd Yawn and Stretch thing recently. She would swell up the bottom of her neck and stretch it way out, then open her mouth wide like she is trying to say something. Sometimes she would make a squeeking sound and a few times she sneezed.
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>>Please advise ASAP! Thanx

Do you have a vet that you have been taking your other turtle (Duphus) to? From reading this forum in the past, it sounds like you are describing symptoms of a Respiritory infection. I don't know, it just sounds that way. I've never experienced what you said and I'm certainly not a turtle expert of any kind. But I personally would take my turtle to a vet just to be on the safe side.

Linda

Best to get it to a vet ASAP. Sounds like a respiratory infection. The advice the petshop owner gave you is useless in with an internal infection (if that is what it is.) A vet is your best bet. He may need injectible antibiotics to recover.

Go to the vet or he will probably die, even then prepare for the worst