I have had this box turtle for almost a year now. Just within the last month or two, it has become very inactive and not eating. She started doing this a few months ago too, but it only lasted about a week or so, then she was back to normal activity and food consumption. It has been over a month since i have last seen her eat anything, and she just sits in her water all day, not moving. The temp in the cage hovers in the upper 80's to low 90's range, and the humidity is kept above 60% all the time, and i try to get it up higher as much as possible, but very dry minnesota winters make it a bit difficult. I change the water daily and add Zoomed Reptisafe to get rid of chlorine and chloramines along with algaefix to help with algae problem. I have recently started using another supplement for electrolytes and vitamin D3 which is supposed to stimulate activity and apetite. I try the usual greens and veggies daily, also the commercial box turtle food, and crickets. She eats none of it. She used to literally beg for more crickets from me, now nothing. My concern is even greater now that i noticed her eyes becoming cloudy. Before i thought she may have just been brumating, but now that i see the eye problem, i think she is actually sick. Any advice for me would be great. Or should i just try to find a vet??
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Sick Box Turtle, advice?
Replies (3)
Have you tried soaking her in pedialyte or gatorade?
Any sign of a respiratory infection (runny nose, labored breathing)|? Is she getting any kind of vitamin A supplement?
USUALLY IF IT IS A RESPIRATORY INFECTION, YOU CAN CURE IT JUST BY TURNING THE TEMP UP, BUT YOU SEEM TO HAVE IT PRETTY HIGH ALREADY. TRY GETTING SOME VITAMIN A CAPSULES, OPEN THEM UP AND SQUEESE THE LIQIUD INTO SOME BABY FOOD, THEN TRY AND GET IT INTO ITS MOUTH BY SOME FORM OF SYRINGE OR EYE DROPPER. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, CALL A VET.
If you are new to box turtles, I would suggest you take your turtle to a vet with herp experience. If the vet is good, you could learn so much from him/her. The eye problem should be seen by a vet anyway, so this may be a good time to go.
The inactivity could be a sign of boredom with her housing and food. Many turtle kept indoors become stressed from the confinement and become listless and even sick. Try feeding your turtle nightcralwers or waxworms. Be sure you have a freash source of UVB light for the turtle. UVA lights help stimulate appetite and should also be used.
Why would you need an algacide? The water should never be old enough for algae to grow in it.
This is the time many ondoor turtles slow down, but they should never "brumate" indoors as indoor conditions just aren't suitable for it. Do you think it has lost weight?
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Tess
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