Red Ear Slider Eating Problem

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I have a 1.6 inches Red Ear Slider that I have had for 5 months now. For the last 2 weeks, he hasn't been eating anything at all. I usually feed him Reptomin Baby pellets, 6 pellets a day. I have tried enticing him to eat by giving him bloodworms, live fish, boiled eggs, boiled chicken, and pellets soaked with fish oil/blood. None of these work.

He doesn't show any unusual symptoms, though. He just suddenly stopped eating 2 weeks ago. He still swims/basks normally, the water temperature is around 80-82F (26-27C), and I use a water filter. There is also a proper basking spot with basking light. I keep him in a 15-gallon tank, shared with another baby RES (same size). The water in this tank is about 4 inches deep. There are no gravels in the tank.

The only weird symptom I have observed is that now he moves his head back and forth every once in a while. Here is a short video I made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=406HRR8ouoU

Today, he has been extremely weak that sometimes he falls off his basking spot upside down. He doesnt seem to have the strength to swim, and most of the time, he can't even lift up his head. For this, I am now isolating him in a separate tank, with water only 1-inch (around 2.5 cm) deep. I have also been soaking him with Pedialyte solution for the last 3 days, to keep him at least nourished.

I know I should be going to a vet, but the problem is I live in Indonesia and herp vets here are very rare (especially in my city). It is almost impossible to find.

Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you.

Adrian

ANSWER: Hello Adrian, In the video it appears like he is trying to cough something up or has trouble breathing. Does he breath open mouthed a lot? Instead of thru his nose? Does he wheeze or cough at all? When he breathes do you hear a clicking noise? When he swims does he float lopsided or swim unevenly? If these are all things that he does it is most possibly R.I a respiratory infection. Which does need medical attention but in the mean time the temperatures should be raised. Your basking temperature is fine as is but be sure the water temperature is at least 78 F for a sick turtle. 80 will help if he has RI the causes are drafts or cold breezes. Too cold of water or basking temperatures. There are a few other things but those are most common.

If you don't beleive it is RI then it might be a calcium defficiency are you providing a UV ray producing light? This is extremely important for them to absorb the needed calcium.

Try to hand feed him (do not do so on land as they do not produce enough saliva to swallow without being in the water adn they can suffocate, only feed in the water)

If that doesn't work take some of his food items and blend them up into a mushy consistancy. Put this food into a plastic syringe, like the kind used for feeding baby medicine (if you ask  your pharmacy they usually give them out free) fill the syringe and gently very gently place it in his mouth and very softly and slowly ease the food into his mouth. Not so much of the pellets as that doesn't make a good mush but crickets, worms, and other "wet" food items. If blending up insects is not good for your kitchen utensils then get some baby food the mushy kind but only CHICKEN not chicken flavored not chicken and gravy. chicken vegetable might be ok depending on what kind of vegetables. But dont do the gravy or other non natural flavors. Be sure to read the ingredients and make sure there is no salt or preservatives. Do the same with the syringe with the baby food.


Good luck and let me know how it goes or if you would like more information

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi,

Thank you for your quick reply. Unfortunately, today my turtle just died. :(

Yes, I also noticed that he appeared like he was having trouble breathing. But this morning, he didn't move his head like that anymore. There wasn't any noise nor did he swim unevenly. So I'm pretty sure this wasn't a respiratory infection. I also provide a UV light. Do you might know what else could cause his death?

Anyway, I still have another RES in the tank, and I'm a little bit concerned with her. Since about a month ago, she has been having this black spot right under her mouth, and I'm kind of worried if this could be a symptom of a disease or something, but she doesn't have any problems with eating/swimming/basking at all. Here's a picture, I circled the spot: http://i26.tinypic.com/r29lwk.jpg

I'm sorry it's a blurry picture - it's hard to take a good picture.

Thank you again.

Adrian

Answer
Hi Adrian, I am extremeley sorry for your loss, I have had baby turtles die on me too and I could tell you really cared for him.
It could have been parasites causing him to stop eating and then the stress toll would have gotten to him. Internal parasites are a common problem in captive turtles. Is there fecal matter runny or appear to have worms in it? Ever find small worms are bugs in his tank?
I would definately remove the turtle and do a very good cleaning of the tank sense the death of the turtle. Be sure you supply a new water filter and fresh clean water. Bottled water is best and most sanitary.

The picture of your other one is really cute, but the black spot doesn't ring any bells or can I find anything about it being an illness. It could just be natural coloring. Or a scratch or bruise, or even an old scratch leading to a scar. Keep an eye on him and let me know if there are any other symptoms but I don't think there is too much to worry about. But you can ask around other experts or research it yourself. Somebody might know something I don't and sense I am not trained with medical problems or any diseases and such and only know what I have gathered through years of research it is possible that I just missed something.

Good luck