Respiratory problem?

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I have two Asian box turtles. One of them
I've had for 18 years. He's stayed very small (shell about the size of your palm) and the vet has said he may be a bit of a genetic anomaly because his legs are a little odd too. He occasionally does open mouth breathing, especially when outside. He also bubbles from the nose sometimes and can have this sudden intake of breath that appears to take him by surprise. He has been to the vet and received antibiotics, he is lively, has a good appetite but still occasionally does these things. We bought a tank heater that keeps them warm day and night, UV lighting, they soak in a clean fresh water dish daily, I offer them green leaves, peppers, blueberry, tomato-but it's very hard to get them to eat greens, they're very keen on shrimp, tuna, chicken. They live indoors (because I live in Ireland), but get outside in summer if it's warm.
I should also mention that when he was at the vets previously they listened to his lungs and looked in his
Mouth and it seemed normal. However, there was some blood on his nose when they were squeezing his head to open his mouth- does this sound like its probably just due to the squeezing/ stress? I haven't seen any since.
I'm not sure what to do for him.

ANSWER: Hi Orlagh,

I need to do some research for you, but could you give me more information?  I need to know what specific species they are, the kind of enclosure they're in (type and size), the substrate you're using and how moist it is, temperatures (basking and cool side), and type of UV bulb (is it UVB?  brand?).  The temperatures should be checked on the substrate (under the basking lamp, and then again in the cooler area).  Once I know a little more I'll see what I can do to help--I don't have a lot of experience with Asian box turtle species, but I know a few people who keep and breed them.  

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

QUESTION: Hello,they are malayan box turtles. The live in an indoor vivarium 4 foot across and 1 foot tall. In the tank there is a mixture of woodchips and coocoa bark at one end and a water dish for them to soak in at the other. I try to keep the substrate moist but it dries up very quickly. They have a tank heater, rather than a heatlight, and a UV light that runs the length of the tank. I only have a thermometer in the centre of the tank, which reads 75F. I'm not too sure aboutthe UV light but we buy it in the reptile store. This particular turtle also has very very dry skin.
Thanks!

Answer
Hi Orlagh,

You're keeping them much too dry and too cool.  They are really an aquatic/semi-aquatic species, and should be kept in a tank with both a shallow water area and land area.That's probably the major issue, along with temperatues being too low.  They need a basking spot of 90 degrees (measured on the substrate, not in the air), and water temperature of high 70s to 80 degrees.  Make sure you have a good UVB bulb--the ZooMed Powersun is a decent bulb that gives off oth heat and UVB.  Most bulbs sold for reptile use don't give off UVB.  

Here's some sites that will give you detailed information on how to set up their enclosure, diet, etc.:


http://www.chelonia.org/articles/Camboinensiscare.htm
http://www.turtlepuddle.org/cuora/caresheet.html