Turtle help

[maklouf]

Hi there,
I have a long neck turtle who doesn't look well. I changed her tank water yesterday and since then, she is very lethargic and has her eyes closed all the time. She is not eating which is unlike her and spends most of the time at the bottom of the tank very still. When I put my finger in the tank she usually has a very strong grip, now there is nothing, even when i am very close. It came upon very suddenly. Please help me

 

[Bearded_Lady]

Could it be that the new water is a bit too cold for the turtle? However, at the same time I don't want to undermine the problem and if it persists/ deteriorates you should seek veterinary advice.

 

[Brettix]

How much uv is it getting ?
Has it got a basking area ?
Any signs of the shell getting soft ?

 

[mysnakesau]

That don't sound good. Water not too cold or too hot? I have read that either extreme can cause them to refuse food. Is she staying in the water, or at the bottom in a dry spot? To prevent RI keeping the temperatures up and stable is important as is getting their appetites wound up.

Could she have food poisoning (salmonella). Not a common problem turtles but not unheard of. They are known to carry the bug. Symtpoms of her being infected with it are lethargy, loss of appetite and maybe diarrhea.

Another suggestion I could offer is nutritional disorder. Does Turtle get a good variety to eat? Feeding them on just one type of food can cause deficiences which can result in lethargy, swollen eye lids, and swelling of the limb pockets, soft shell, peeling skin and RI are just some things to watch for. Does she get adequate calcium and UV lighting?

Other than that, what about the water quality? I know you said you just changed the water so one would think that isn't an issue but sometimes you never know what extras come in the water now and then.

I hope I haven't scared you. Just giving you some possibilites but only a vet check can determine if she's just having a bad day or whether she is becoming ill. Make sure you pick a vet that knows reptiles, otherwise general vets are a waste of effort and the turtle will still be waiting for help.

 

[-Peter]

give this site a try

http://www.australianfreshwaterturtles.com.au/forum/login.php

 

[maklouf]

Thank you all for your replies. She does have a uv light and it is left on for about 13hours a day and she has a basking area, which she hasn't used for a few days. Temperature is set at 27 degrees. She has a variety of food, white bate, crickets, turtle food and fresh water prawns. I feed her every two days. She doesn't show any signs of shell rot or swelling.

 

[-Peter]

how far is the UV light from the surface. Anything over 300mm is ineffective.
Is the water 27 or the basking area. If its the water temp its too hot and if its the basking area you could bump it up a little.

 

[maklouf]

Thanks Peter for your reply. The UV is 20cm from basking area. And the water is 27 degrees, I have turned it down to 24 and see how that goes.