dodgem Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 Hi, I have two Red eared sliders and they are about 6 years old. The female is sleeping alot lately (we have a large indoor tank with a shelf and a rock to rest on) i think she is hibernating as she wakes up now and then but mostly sleeps on the shelf with her nose in the corner of the tank and hasnt eaten now for a few weeks. The main concern i have is should i have some proper area for her to hibernate? Secondly when she is not hibernating she can only swim around the top of the tank, she cant go down at all, she just floats about at the top and sometimes on an angle. Is this normal for a female of this size and age (Aprox 12cm across shell) ? I do hand feed her otherwise she cant get to the food if it sinks! The Male is active all the time and now he just wants to keep trying to get out of the tank and swims vigourously at the glass any time were in view? Im wondering if he wants to get out and hibernate somewhere too? He does eat alot though. Cheers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasus_edwardsii Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 hi was woundering if you are heating their tank??if so they wont hibernate.you say you have a male and female ..? it could possably egg retention.goole it . hope this helps..the fact that she cannot dive is of concern.If you are wanting to hibernate then and they are in cold water limit their diet as their metabolisim slows and food sits in the intestine and can cause consterpation ..observe what goes in and what goes out.. hope this helps.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 mmm I dont think she is hibernating. She sounds like she needs a trip to a reputable vet who knows about turtles and needs a course of antibiotics for pneumonia. Turtles shouldnt hibernate inside. They may slow a little, but dont have a thick layer of mud or something to burrow down in and hibernate in at the bottom of a deep tank..... Turtles usually only show signs of illness when they are pretty sick, and staying out of water, not eating, floating on side are all signs of a serious respiratory illness that needs immediate attention or she will die. If this has been going on for a few weeks....its not a good sign. Is often contagious so you are lucky the male is not showing any signs. When they hibernate they need NO food...as it will rot inside them and cause death. Turtles may hibernate outside in bottom of a pond, or under a compost heap or something and need no feeding for several months during that time. Get your water really clean, warm it up to around 29 deg, make sure there is no draft getting into tank area, dont have lids on tank which cause condensation...another reason for resp issues, put one or even 2, 40 or 60 watt lightbulbs over basking area to add warmth. Get a cheap clip on one from Bunnings if you have none, make sure your UV light is a proper reptile one and not older then 6 mths as that will also increase immune system strength. Personally I think after the vet she needs dry docking with only short spells in warm water to ensure she is staying hydrated.... If the vet doesnt know about turtles get them to look up about giving ABs in a reptile book or to phone a vet that does. (Ross blanks in Hornby CHCH if they dont know of one,...) Dont let them send you home with no treatment. Your turtle is very sick Good luck and I hope shes OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem Posted August 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 Hi all thanks for the replies. The tank is heated to about 25deg indoors (in our warm lounge) and no lid on top. the water is changed regularly and it has a reptile light close to the stone they lie on. She hasnt floated on an angle for a long time now but she wont dive down at all. She does swim around and eat most of the time. Last winter she did the same thing as this winter, just sit on the rock and hide in the corner of the tank. She will look around from time to time but hasnt eaten anything now for a few weeks like last year. I think i will try and get to see the vet in Hornby he maybe the only one in town that knows much about Turtle health. The male is fine he is very active and tries to tickle the female an awful lot Cheers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 Hi dodgem, can you please put your location in via the User Control Panel, then the rest of us do not have to try and guess where you are. Good luck with the turtle, DonnaM has patiently nursed many sick turtles back to good health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 It does not sound like normal behaviour to me and a visit to the vet seems like the best idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 And try and see Ross, not Pauline. Only coz Ross has been treating turtles for years and Pauline is relatively new at it.... Floating is not ok/normal. Check out the care sheets on the www.happyturtlespub.org as thay will give you loads of info on care and behaviour and illness etc. Get to Hornby asap and if you need a hand getting antibiotics into her, give us a yell and I can help if needed. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem Posted August 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 Thanks, i will give them a call would be good to see her swiming around properly again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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