HELP MY TURTLE !

Question
QUESTION: OK I'VE BOUGHT 2 RED EARED SLIDER TURTLES A FEW MONTHS AGO. ONE OF THEM EATS ALOT AND HAS GROWN A LITTLE BUT THE OTHER ONE HASN'T GROWN AS MUCH AND LOOKS SKINNY. THERE ABOUT 3 INCHES OR SO. YESTERDAY I SAW MY TURTLE AND IT BASICALLY LOOKED DEAD. IT WAS LAYING ON ITS ROCK WITH ITS FEET ARMS AND HEAD FULLY STRECHED OUT. WHEN IT LOOKS AT ME IT LIFTS ITS HEAD UP AND OPENS IT MOUTH AND ITS THROAT GETS BIG AS IF HES TRYING TO THROW UP. ITS USALLY AGGRESSIVE AND WOULD QUICKLY PUT ITS ARMS AND FEET IN ITS SHELL IF IT WAS TOUCHED. NOW IT JUST LAYS THERE AND LETS YOU TOUCH ITS HEAD AND FEET EVERYTHING. IT BERLY MOVES. AND WHITE STUFF COMES OUT OF ITS MOUTH SOMETIMES, AFTER HE LOOKS LIKE HES GOING TO THROW UP. THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I PUT MY TURTLES IN A PLASTIC CONTAINER. ITS PRETTY BIG FOR MY 3 TURTLES. YEAH I HAVE AN OLDER ONE AS WELL. I CLEAN THE WATER ONCE IT LOOKS DIRTY AND STARTS TO SMELL SO EVERY WEEK OR SO. I FEET IT LITTLE BALL HARD FOODS THAT TURN SOFT WHEN ENTERING THE WATER. YESTERDAY SINCE IVE SEEN THIS HAPPING I PUT A LIGHT ON TOP SO IT COULD GET WARM BECAUSE I HAVENT BOUGHT A UV LIGHT YET. (BUT I WILL BECAUSE I DONT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN 2 MY OTHER TURTLES.) THE WATER IS BASICALLY ROOM TEMPERATURE BUT A LITTLE TO THE COLD SIDE.

ANSWER: Hi Pricilla,

It sounds like your turtle may have pneumonia.  Please take it to a good reptile vet right away, because it will likely need antibiotics, but in any case does need vet attention.

You need to make some significant changes to how you're keeping your turtles.  From what I can tell, you're not providing adequate filtration (if any), basking heat, UVB, or diet, and maybe not nearly enough room as well.  Turtles require a lot of room (three adult RES kept together will need a 200+ gallon tank or outdoor pond, and even juveniles need considerable room), excellent filtration (with regular partial water changes), correct basking temperatures plus UVB (not UV; you need special reptile lighting), and a good varied diet.  If they're lacking in any of these, health problems are likely to result.

I'm going to link some good care websites for you below.  Please read everything over carefully, especially the information on housing and filtration.  If you have any questions, post back and I'll do my best to explain.  

http://www.redearslider.com
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-red_ear_slider.htm
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/care.htm
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/waterquality.htm
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/housing.htm

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QUESTION: THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I COULD DO INSTEAD OF TAKING IT TO A VET. IVE READ PUTTING IT IN WARM WATER (AND WITH SALT BUT IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT) SEPERATE FROM OTHER TURTLES AND GIVING IT MORE VITAMIN A AND CALCIUM UNDER A UVB LIGHT. WILL THAT MAKE MY TURTLE BETTER?

Answer
I'm afraid not.  The symptoms you describe sound like pneumonia/upper respiratory infection, and there's no way to treat it at home--certainly not with vitamins or calcium.  The lack of basking heat, UVB, filter, etc. may have contributed to the illness, but warming the turtle up now and providing the other things it needs won't cure it.  It needs antibiotics.  Even if it's not pneumonia, your turtle is quite sick and needs vet care.  Having pets means sometimes you have to pay for a vet, and that's just as true with turtles as with any other animal.  Unfortunately this is one case where there really isn't anything you can do at home, so please take it to the vet.