Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i adopted 3 RES 2 months back, from a person that couldn't take care of them because he is too busy with his schooling. he gave me what food was left the two oldest ones (18 and 16 years old) are eating fine in their new tank. the 12 year old wont eat. i throw food in and it just floats there, i put in greens and there were some bites taken out of them but not a lot. i know they can go a few months without food. when i clean the tanks out today i found some poop for once. does this mean he is eating something? i tried everything, bluegills, and kind of pellets, greens. and its not the water tempature i have a heater in it. any ideas?

nate

Do you have the water temp at least 80 degrees F? Make sure lights are on 12-14 hours per day or short days can trigger hibernation mode. Raising the water temp to 84F wouldn't hurt until a good appetite is restored. Try live earthworms. Wiggly food will usually temp a turtle to eat unless there is something wrong. For turtles indoors, they should eat good all the time. Not eating for several months if indoors is not good. This could kill a turtle. Indoor temps do not let a turtle get cold enough to hibernate properly. Check this link for things to do with your turtle to see if it may be sick. Any doubts, get it to a good turtle vet. Don't wait til it hasn't eaten for weeks before you see a vet. Turtles that are not eating that are not in proper hibernation outside can get major organ damage as soon as 6 weeks without food. Hope this helps. See link.
How can I tell if my turtle is sick?

the water is around 78-80 degrees and the basking light is on from 8am-8 pm every day. the turtle is find as far as the link that i checked out. the only thing is that he isn't eating.. well he is eating but just a little bit of greens and a pellet or two. ill go out and buy some worms today and see if that works. wish me luck.

nate

From experience, I think 80 degrees is too warm for the
water. Especially if the previous owner did not use
a heater. Mine prefer water at about 72-74 degrees with
the basking area of 85 degrees.

I would turn the heater down to get the temp at 74 and
see what happens. 80 degrees is good for hatchlings though.

Linda

I'm not trying to be arguementative but 72-74 degrees sounds way too low for a turtle not eating and that could be having unknown problems. I'm a rehabber and member of the Gulf Coast Turtle & Tortoise Society and we have always recommended 80 degrees for healthy sliders and 82 degrees for hatchlings. Of course a warmer basking area is needed too.
Water Turtle Care page

My post was based on 5 years of raising my 2 RES and 2 Painted
turtles.

I try to keep my turtles as natural as possible. I guess
my feeling is that no where in the world is the water temp
a constant 80 degrees. I like to give them the opportunity
to thermoregulate. They live in a 165 gallon pond with the
basking area but the water is different temps ie: surface
and bottom of pond. They are very healthy and I have never
had a problem with health. This is why I suggested lowering
the water temp some just to see what happens. My turtles
seem to prefer the cooler temps.

I have also done some rehabbing with aquatic turtles as well
as Iguanas and Box turtles. Here is one of my iguanas that
I rehabbed. I sure enjoy it!

Linda

Generally speaking 80 degrees is way to warm for an adult slider. Over the long term this will speed up their metabolism and cause them to grow too fast and eat too much. Mine live at 74 degrees and have no problems. Here in NJ RES live in the wild (released pets), and the water temp is normally in the 60's in the summer and the 30's in the winter with ice. The live and thrive out here, and are actually big pests. A sick RES can benefit from warmer water, but warmer water cannot cure anything.
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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

____

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

Anita --

The warmer temps are indeed a good idea for turtles that may be experiencing health issues and droopy apetites but the latest info is what Linda said. 72-74 is a good temperature for the water with an 85 - 90 degree basking area. This temperature is also fine for little sliders as well.

I do agree 100% though regarding animals that are ill or may need a little warmer temperature to stimulate their appetites.

I do rehab as well and have only kept ill animals in water temps higher than 75 degrees.

Steve