Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have two painted turtles that are absolutely our babies. We do everything that we can to take great care of them. Last weekend, my husband was doing the "thorough" tank cleaning and took them both out of the tank. When he was ready to put them both back in their home, Sheldon was ready to go, but Shirley was no where to be found! Needless to say, we absolutely tore our apartment apart! Several times! Furniture was moved, tears were shed...we thought she was gone! Moments ago, I was going to take out the garbage and when I moved the can, I screamed to find Shirley sitting under it. After a full week on the MIA list, I thought sure she was dead but then she looked up and blinked her little eyes at me. I wasn't sure what to do. After a full week with no food and no water I was hesitant to put her back in the big tank with Sheldon (he isn't always the brightest bulb...and he's a bit of a brute, I figured he might do damage...). Sheldon was deep in his "basking coma" so I took a chance. I put her on her floating log and waited. She stretched her neck out and dipped her face in the water for a long time...took a long drink and then slid herself into the water. She bobbed to the top like a cork. After a while, she seemed to gain a little bit of strength from the hydration, but she's still really lethargic and she won't eat. She's always been the thinner of the two because she's a finicky eater, but...now she's positively frail. I know I just found her an hour ago, so I probably need to just wait and watch, but...does anyone have any suggestions? Her color is good, her eyes are clear, she seems alert...just very, very lethargic and frail. Do we need to be overly concerned? Or just keep offering her food until she takes it? We do have a turtle doctor in town who was fantastic when Sheldon had pneumonia this spring, but I can't get in touch with her until Monday, so I'm concerned about the next 48 hours...any comments would be appreciated!

By the way - Sheldon is now mesmerized by her...he keeps following her around and "sniffing" at her. He isn't biting or anything, but...should I separate them until she's back to normal?

Thanks!

The thing im concerned about is where do you put them when youre cleaning the tank?
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Thank you so much for your helpful suggestion! The guilt that we feel about losing Shirley in the first place definitely overshadows the concern we felt about her well-being. Was your question intended to be helpful?
Actually, whether it's the "right" thing to do or not, we will occasionally allow the turtles free-reign around the apartment. They like to wander into the sunlight coming through the patio doors and we've never had a problem before (we've had Sheldon for 2 years now)

Shirley seems to be doing fine. She seems almost entirely back to her old self this morning though still very, very thin and not too eager to eat.

Ive lost frogs in my apartment before, theyve jumped out of the tank and soft bodied animals dont fare well on carpet. They were in as a food source, so I didnt feel too upset. Before I got my canopy I also had some crayfish crawl out and found one under the trashcan as well, dried up. I would suggest maybe a large rubbermaid container to put them in while cleaning if you want them to be able to walk around. I would avoid carpet as fibers may get wrapped around little claws.
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I think she will be fine in a day or two. Going a week without eating is not that big of a deal. Not being in water might be a diff. story though because as you said dehidration. I think that since it was only a week she will be fine though. I too used to let my turtle (back when I only had one) run around free in my college dorm and sometimes I would take him outside so he could play in the grass. As he got bigger and faster I had to take the bottom out of a box and useed it as a play pen for him outside. He would play with my friends RES when we went outside. It was like a play date. Anyway I know you already feel bad but maybe you should put them in a seperate (dry if you want) container when you can't watch them or when you are cleaning their tanks and have your attention on that instead. I have no problem with letting them run around when you can watch them. I usually put mine in a bug dry rubbermaid tub when I clean their tanks. I had to stop letting my turtle run around in my college dorm when he ran under my bed and I had to crawl under it to get him. Man was it dusty under there! lol I would watch her for a few more days and if she doesn't start acting normal again I would take her to your vet.
I don't claim to know much about turtles so I could be wrong, it's just what I would do. Maybe someone else can give you a better answer.

It may take a day for it to bask and warm up from room temperature to active turtle temperature (especially if your ac is on). The dehydration and lack of food shouldn't be much of a problem. Give it a few days.