Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Pretty much, my biology teacher at school asked me to take care of his turtle over christmas break. I have never had a turtle before, and don't know too much about taking care of them. When my teacher gave it too me, he mentioned something about it sitting on the basking spot and having foam coming out of it's mouth. Now I have noticed that it has lots of foamy stuff on it's mouth, it breaths with it's mouth open and sounds like it is having a hard time breathing. It also won't eat anything. I did as much reading on turtles as I could, and I have the best set up I can do right now (nothing pretty, but it has all the nessesities). I can't take the turtle to the vet because I don't have money, and just the office visit will cost $35. I also won't be able to get ahold of my teacher until monday (next week). Is there anything I can do for the turtle now, and how long can they go without eating anything? Just how worried should I be? Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks

Sounds like he has an upper respritory infection. Those are fatal unless treated with antibiotics from the vet. Keeping him warm may help until he can see a vet, but it sounds like his illness is already pretty advanced. Turtles can literally survive for months without food, so that isn't really a problem, but the illness will kill him very quickly.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

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edited signature file; oversized graphic [phw 12/13/04]

Can you take the turtle to the vet ASAP and have them bill you and just give the bill to your teacher? I agree with the last poster, I also think it is a resperatory infection. If it were me I would just take it to the vet for some antibiotics so it would not die before your teacher comes back.SOunds like he is suffering.