AboutMark Adkins Expertise I will be glad to help with your tortoise- and turtle-related questions. My specialty is Red-foot and other Tortoises, but I can help with many aspects of turtle care.
Understand- I am not a vet, and the more information you can give me, the more accurate my answer can be.
(Because of the number of questions I get, I reserve the right to direct you to a good website that will help rather than re-inventing the wheel.)
Experience Tortoise and other reptile keeper since 1964.
Member of the Nebraska Herpetological Society.
Author of books and articles on tortoise care.
Currently own five Red-foot Tortoises.
Expert: Mark Adkins Date: 6/30/2008 Subject: sick red eared slider
Question my son's 3 yr. old slider got out of the aquarium 3-5 days ago. we were out of town for a funeral & came back & he was missing. I found him behind the computer monitor. He is very dehydrated but alive. His shell appears more seperated than normal. Right now we have him soaking in 1/2 his height water scared to submerge him in case he's not strong enough to swim up for air. What would be our best course to help him make it? My son is devastated. We spent 6 hours on our hands & knees w/ a flashlight looking for this for him & he has raised this turtle. I'd hate to loose him.
Answer A basic hospital care plan should take care of it nicely.
Hospital care involves a large tank of very clean water, warmed to about 80-85F. Light it well, use a good filter, and leave it as alone as you can.
