How do you know if your turtle is not well?
- Lack of Appetite. If your turtle is not hibernating and refuses to eat, and begins to lose weight, this is a cause for immediate concern.
- Lethargy.
- Skin Problems.
- Discharge and Bubbling.
- Breathing Problems.
- Swimming Problems.
- Feces.
Why does my turtle look dead?
A turtle or tortoise seemingly dead with no eyes and shriveled skin could simply be dehydrated. Furry areas or white specks of fungus can make it look like the turtle is in a state of decay although your lethargic pet is very much alive. Shell rot produces spongy areas and oozing smelly liquid.
Why does my turtle not bask?
1 If the temperatures (water or basking) are too low, turtles will be sluggish and may not bask. If the water is much warmer than recommended or the ambient air temperature is too cool, the turtles will be unlikely to get out of the water to bask. Basking is essential for the turtle’s health.
Why does my turtle always have his eyes closed?
One of the most common causes for turtles to have swollen, puffy, closed or red eyes, is related to water quality. Typically, this is confined to keeping the eyes closed, some rubbing of the eyes and maybe some twitching of the head. This usually goes away within a few hours if left alone.
Do turtles know when to stop basking?
If your turtle gets stressed out, they will stop basking, eating, and everything else until they calm down. When most turtles are stressed they are either trying to get out of the tank, or they stop doing anything.
Why are turtles at the bottom of the stack?
The turtle that is at the bottom of the stack will get a lot of heat, but not the most heat of them all because there is no turtle underneath. So from a heat perspective or an UV perspective this is not the best position, but it’s still better than basking alone.
Which is the best position for a turtle?
Lucky for the turtles there is no such thing as the best position, all positions in the stack have their own advantages. The turtle on top of the stack will get the most of the UV rays from the sun but it will also get some heat from the turtle below it.
What should you do if you have a pet turtle?
Small children handling turtles should be supervised to ensure they don’t place them near their eyes or mouths and that they wash their hands afterwards. But all of this shouldn’t talk you out of getting a turtle, after all, any pet has the potential to transmit disease. These simple precautions are simply your best protection against getting sick.
What kind of light does a turtle need to survive?
Turtles require both Ultraviolet A and B light to survive. Coates says that UV-B light is especially important for turtles because it “plays a major role in the production of Vitamin D3, which is needed for the absorption and metabolism of calcium.”
What makes a turtle look like it’s dead?
Furry areas or white specks of fungus can make it look like the turtle is in a state of decay although your lethargic pet is very much alive. Shell rot produces spongy areas and oozing smelly liquid. Flesh injuries can be ridden with maggots in a live creature.
What does it look like when a turtle is in the water?
Skin and shell sloughing. The skin of turtles periodically (and normally) sheds off in pieces. In the water, it appears as whitish, “fuzzy” stuff coming off the skin that people may mistaken for fungus or other disease.
Is it normal for a turtle to have no eyes?
A cool temperature is normal when a turtle or tortoise hibernates. A turtle or tortoise seemingly dead with no eyes and shriveled skin could simply be dehydrated.
How can you tell when a turtle is sick?
You may see a runny discharge coming from their nose and/or eyes if a turtle is very sick. Discharges from the eyes or ears that have a thick, pus-like appearance, accompanied by swollen eyelids or ears, is often a sign of vitamin A deficiency.
Why does my turtle stay hidden?
Turtles like to hide under things, and if their environment doesn’t offer any suitable hiding places, they’ll simply hide underground to protect themselves from the elements and from predators. Even indoor domestic turtles will sometimes bury themselves in their substrate to feel protected while they sleep.
How do I get my turtle to stop hiding?
Just give the turtle enough time. He’ll eventually come out. If it is more than a couple of weeks and the turtle is still showing timid behavior, look for anything unusual in the tank. Ensure that the tank has everything a turtle needs such as a powerful filter, basking place, UVB light, heat lamp, and proper diet.
