Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I have a sick hatchling that I'd just bought today. I know, I know, I shouldn't have, but I just needed a new pet. Well, here's the sad news.

The hatchling is a res/yb mix, and seems to have a respiratory illness. It floats, and is opening its mouth and wheezing. I don't know if it's eaten, and I'd bought it at a petshop that had no heater for its hatchlings and that throughout winter.

I took it out of the water and am keeping it warm. I've heard this is the best advice. My questions are, how long should you keep it out of the water, what else should I do to help it get well, and how warm should you keep it?

I now have a heat lamp on it with the hatchling being in a little dish about 12 inches away.

Im afraid your hatchling will need to go to an experienced herp vet ASAP if he has any chance of survival. Hatchlings are extremely delicate and its much hard for them to pull through illnesses. Call a vet and get him in immediatly.

Im not sure about wether you shuld keep him dry or not, but if you do, make sure you give hima couple hours of swimming time a day as they need it for their survival. They will only eat in the water also.
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

You'll also want to be careful not to bake your turtle. I have read of a few people cooking their turtles because they couldn't get out of the heat and light.
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- Melanie

2.0.0 cats
0.0.3 crested geckos
1.2.2 leopard geckos
1.0.0 Bernese mountain dog
1.1.1 red ear sliders
0.0.1 emperor scorpion
0.0.1 chilean rose tarantula
1 south american cichlid tank
2 planted tanks with dwarf cichlids and platies

This baby needs antibiotics. A respiratory infection can quickly go into pneumonia which is fatal if not treated with the proper medication. Please get him to a vet immediately.

I can't get him to the vet and they probably won't know how to take care of him, although I may give it a try. I live in the country.

I don't think he's serious yet. I think it's just a cold.

Im sorry to say this but if you cannot get your animals to the vet then you should not have animals. And if you dont think you can take care of them than you definatley shouldn't have them.

Respitory diseases are extremely serious in reptiles and none of them should be classified as "just a cold" they worsen very quickly and if they are not treated by a vetrinarian they almost always result in death.

I know you meant well by taking the little guy, and im sorry to sound harsh but these things need to be thought through, and it looks like you didn't do that.
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

okay, seriously though, who takes turtles to the vet in the wild? you guys are fanatical, i love my turtles and i have taken them to the vet but cut this guy a break.

if you can get him to the vet then take him, but he's your pet, do what you can.

Thank you! I agree that, while it is best to take them in to the vet, it is not always an option. As for your turtle there are several breeders out there that say boosting the temperatures of the water and basking area work just as good as antibiotics. Make sure there is no cool drafts. I even read where one breeder puts the little ones back in the incubator to keep them warm enough when they get a RI. You can always call a vet and ask them for advise. I work at an animal hospital and many times we can work problems out with our patients over the phone with out costly office visits. Most vets will help out as much as possible, they may have to look the information up for you if they don't usually treat turtles. Another thing you can do is look up all the information you can and have it available when you call the vet. I am not sure where I seen it, but there is a chart out there that tells you the dosages and types of antibiotics to use on turtles. Good luck to you, and don't get discouraged.
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Slow and Steady wins the race...

Hey thanks, Skanndelus. This is the exact same way I feel. I'm quite apt to take care of turts, and some of these folks come across as too fanatical.

It's doing okay now, as I'd left if out to dry, with warmth, for a couple of days.

>>okay, seriously though, who takes turtles to the vet in the wild?

Nobody... which is why the mortality rate for wild hatchlings is *incredibly* high. Therefore, unless you ("you" colloquial, not "you" personal) enjoy constantly replacing dead pets, you take your pets to the vet when they're sick or injured.

Also, a stitch in time really does save nine when it comes to vet care. "Just a cold" should be relatively simple & inexpensive to treat, but it can quickly & easily become pneumonia or another more serious, more expensive, & easily fatal condition.

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~Alice

1.0 Bearded Dragon (Oolong)
0.0.1 Red Eared Slider (Howard)
0.1 Rabbit (Meat Bunny)
1.2 ferrets (Fairy, Noodles, Zilla)
8.4 cats (Angel, Goblin, Hush, Jesse, Kirin, Sammy, Squee, Toes, Feets, Gypsy, Kana, Raisen)

i agree totally...

and not only that BUT these turtles (in their NATURAL habitat, not the one that some have been 'released' to) is much warmer than most tanks... and this can ALSO cause Respiratory Infections if you do not have a heater to keep the water warm enough for them. AND... i also believe that there may be a lot of 'inbreeding' with all of these baby turtles which could also cause them to be sickly when young! and inbreeding (i believe) does not happen often in the wild because there are SO MANY other turtles to copulate with.

one more thing... just because wild dogs do not go to vets, does that mean your house pet shouldnt? *don't think too hard*

just thought i'd put my 2 cents in as well!
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~ Evie

Pets:
RIP 0.1.0 German Shepherd {Dusty}
0.1.0 German Shepherd/Collie mix {Shadoe}
0.0.2 RES turtles {Booger & Snot}
1.0.0 African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
0.0.2 Snail {Gary & Larry}

Unfortunately with a reptile there is no such thing as "just a cold". Do you have a vet that you can call who would be willing to give you medication? There are consulting services available to vets thru some of the vet schools. I believe that Cornell Univ in NY is one that does that.

It's part of the turtle trade, young lady. It appears I've chosen a sick one, albeit I'm only capable of practical advice. I'm overseas, in Korea, so it's of little avail to go to the vet.

Thanks.