Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I have a baby eastern painted and southern painted, the eastern is lively but the southern sleeps a lot and spends most of the day basking and it isnt very active at all. The southern eats a little bit but not a whole lot. Is this normal? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks

Also the water temp is about 80-82 and if he is sick and i do have to take him to the vet would they be able to treat him because he is only a little hatchling.

Thank you,
DC

Excessive basking is a possible worrisome sign, but there are several possible causes. First, it could be intimidated by the larger tutle, although Paints are not known for agrssiveness. If it had a respiratory illness, it Could be treated, but one has to have an exact weight of the turtle and predilute most of the antibiotics to ensure exact dosage. With a small hatchling, one has to suspect one of several vitamin or mineral nutritional deficiency problems that a growing turtle is prone to. A good commercial diet, such as Reptomin may help, but it is often difficult to start them out is they are already off their food a bit. I personally have had very poor results with juvenile paints compared to some other species.

Sadly my southern painted died this morning =( but now my eastern is starting to get the same way as the southern was also..its not the water because i have a rosey in there and it is doing fine, I am trying to get it to eat reptomin but he wont have any of it and doesnt even notice it, i am afraid the same thing is going to happen to him as my southern painted..any suggestions?

Yes - if you still have the dead one bag it up and put it in the fridge. Then call a vet and get there ASAP. Bring the dead on too. If the vet can't get an immediate indication of the problem something may be ascertain from the dead one.

Sorry about your loss but act fast before you lose the second one.

Steve