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RES ill

22 16:30:20

Question
Help!  My daughter left her adult RES in my care two weeks ago, and now it is almost dead.  I fed it live feeder goldfish this week and there are still 2 in the tank.  They looked healthy when I bought them.  There is some pond scum algae growing in the tank, after I put some anachris in it, which the turtle ate.  His shell started to look a bit pale a day ago, and today he is hardly alive.  Completely limp when I pick him up, barely able to move his head.  I took him out of the tank, which is now smelly, and put him in a plastic conatiner with a small amount of fresh water, an a dark place in the bathroom.  Is he a goner?  Anything I can do?  I am at work, but will go back home soon to check on him.

Thanks!

Hilarie (guilty mom)

Answer
Adult Red-ear? This would mean it is about 10" long (shell only, front to back). it would be very unusual for an adult to get this sick this fast. Of course, it could be the turtle equivalent of old age. The stress of captivity often ages turtles quickly.

Pale shells usually take a while to develop, and are the result of a long-term problem in basic cares. These turtles are generally kept too cold, too dirty, and in too small of a tank. A healthy habitat is one with lots of clean, warm water, good fake sunshine, good basking sites, and nutritious food. Sadly, because of decades of bad care advice, few captive turtles get this.

The turtle's best hope is that it gets the right cares, plenty of good fake or real sun (but not filtered through glass or plastics), and some good food.

A good website to use to learn about the details of good care would be http://www.redearslider.com

Good luck!