Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I rescued three red eared sliders from a very abusive situation today. I do not know much about turtles, but I do know that the water should not be green (it was), they need a water heater (they had none), they need a basking spot (they had none), they need a sponge filter ( they had NO filter), and they are supposed to eat turtle food (they were on a fish flake diet). However, while I know that because thier enclosure was so filthy that the salmonella thing is probably active now, I can only see two problems: (1) They are all severly malnurished. This I know how to fix. My plan is to be sure that, for a while, they always have access to TURTLE food. (2)They have pinkish/orangeish bellies. This, I think, is paracites. Because while I was looking at thier previous enclosure I found very tiny black worm things. Everywhere. Okay. My problem is that I do not have the funds needed for proper veterinary care. I need any suggestions on how to rid my new pets of thier ailment. I do have pictures of the bellies, but no idea of how to post them. Please Help.

Heather

The picture is at the red eared sliders photo gallery under Sick Slider.

>>I rescued three red eared sliders from a very abusive situation today. I do not know much about turtles, but I do know that the water should not be green (it was), they need a water heater (they had none), they need a basking spot (they had none), they need a sponge filter ( they had NO filter), and they are supposed to eat turtle food (they were on a fish flake diet). However, while I know that because thier enclosure was so filthy that the salmonella thing is probably active now, I can only see two problems: (1) They are all severly malnurished. This I know how to fix. My plan is to be sure that, for a while, they always have access to TURTLE food. (2)They have pinkish/orangeish bellies. This, I think, is paracites. Because while I was looking at thier previous enclosure I found very tiny black worm things. Everywhere. Okay. My problem is that I do not have the funds needed for proper veterinary care. I need any suggestions on how to rid my new pets of thier ailment. I do have pictures of the bellies, but no idea of how to post them. Please Help.
>>
>>Heather

As someone who has turtles (entirely healthy ones even) in green(algae), unheated(except by the totally filtered sun), unfiltered water, albeit with a basking spot, outside and with black worm things (mosquito larvae) in the water on occasion between water changes....I guess I would like to know more. Pink belly may be a shell condition or not. Are there soft spots, like an overripe melon? White/Flaking. Turtles, healthy ones, carry a bunch of protozoans, and salmanella etc that doesn't adversely affect their health. Do wash YOUR hands though. I would suggest, since you have no turtle experience that you have them vet checked. Have their weight and condition evaluated and then go from there. I don't feed 'turtle food' per se. I feed live foods. Fish, earthworms, bugs. Canned turtle food as an exclusive diet isn't gonna be a ton better than the fish food.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

You must think I am a complete ass. I promise i'm not, I just don't know as much as I thought I did about turtles. Yes, I always wash my hands after handling my reptiles, i'm afraid of passing anything on to my 4-month-old. No soft spots. Although it does look like the spots on the bottom are.. this will sound dumb.. smeared. They look like when you write on yourself and give one good swipe with a wet finger, but they are all smeared in differnt directions. The shell is not dry at all. I do not have the money for a vet, so if I can't fix this myself then I am going to have to take them to the ASPCA, and I dont want to because I really like them. Sorry for being such a snot.

>>You must think I am a complete ass. I promise i'm not, I just don't know as much as I thought I did about turtles. Yes, I always wash my hands after handling my reptiles, i'm afraid of passing anything on to my 4-month-old. No soft spots. Although it does look like the spots on the bottom are.. this will sound dumb.. smeared. They look like when you write on yourself and give one good swipe with a wet finger, but they are all smeared in differnt directions. The shell is not dry at all. I do not have the money for a vet, so if I can't fix this myself then I am going to have to take them to the ASPCA, and I dont want to because I really like them. Sorry for being such a snot.
>>

The pict helps. Personally I don't think you are an idiot....I was just responding to what you did post. So, going from there. If this were me I would dry the turtle off, drip on some betadine and scrub it in with a soft brush, let it dry on and then return them to their tub. I would do this every day, once a day for a week and see if anything does anything. I would dust crix or roaches and/or offer them fish, tuffys or rosys maybe. Have a hot spot to bask and see how and if they improve.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Okay, I can try that. Should I keep them in seperate tanks for a while since they are all different shades of pink? Thank you for your help.

>>Okay, I can try that. Should I keep them in seperate tanks for a while since they are all different shades of pink? Thank you for your help.

Personally I wouldn't separate them unless it is impossible to keep them very clean in the tank they are in. Others may have input. Pink belly strikes a chord but danged if I can think of why. I will see what I can find.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

If the water was that bad the pink bellies could be amonia(sp?)burn. Keep the water clean. The black marks are just thier markings, nothing to worry about.
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Anna

1.0.0 Ball Python {Shane}
1.0.0 Afican Bullfrog {Bungy}
2.2.8 Crested Geckos {Mel, Harley, Sally, Momma, unnamed}
0.0.1 Giant Black African Millipede {Milly}
2.0.0 Parakeets {Storm, Cloud}
4.0.0 Button Quails {Bob, unnamed}
1.0.0 Short Tail Possum {Eddie}
2.0.0 Pet Rats {Carlos the hairless, Ibin the dumbo}
2.1.0 Dogs Lab/Pionter mix,Basset Hound,German Shepherd {Vegas,Shortie,Nevada}
2.1.0 Kitties {Kenny, Sebation, Phoebe}
1.1.0 Ferrets {Weasle, Girlie}
1.0.0 Betta {George}
1.0.0 Boyfriend {Brian}
1 fish tanks with lots of fish
2 Crested Gecko eggs layed 7/24
And the bugs

Thats it for now.....