About Yexalen Expertise I am experienced with the care, lighting, heating, breeding, sexing, species identification, and general keeping of mostly aquatic turtles. I also have experience with tortoises and land turtles and can certainly research any question that I do not know the answer. I can not answer medical related questions as I am not veterinarian certified. I prefer not to answer questions on animals that you or somebody else has taken out of their natural environment unless the animal was in danger, ill, or injured.
Experience I have owned six aquatic turtles and have been researching turtles for several years. I have been on several question and answer sites under this category. I also have started up a web site focused on reptile care with a portion of it for turtles.
Education/Credentials I have been around turtles sense a very young age and always found them fascinating and because of that it has lead me to researching day after day, reading book after book, and finding endless amounts of web sites with information.
Question I've had a red eared slider baby turtle for a couple months and I love him to death but I'm worried he's really sick...he's been extending his neck weird at odd angles and swimming/spinning around in circles. It almost seems as though there's something stuck in his throat. He hasn't been swimming normally at all and if there is anything I could do to save him please let me know. He also has been extending his neck weird over background across his shell.
Answer Hi Tina, it sounds like he has a Respiratory Tract Infection. Basically a common cold to us. But the fact that he is swimming awkaradly and unbalanced means he has fluid built up in his lungs which is not all too basic. You need to raise the temperatures the air and water temperatures should both be raised 10F higher then it is supposed to be.
This may also be why his neck keeps extending. RI is very similar to the common cold we get and thus making him probably feel like his throat is swollen or sore.
If the tank is near a door or window or somewhere else that gets a cold draft then you need to move it.
Basically its caused by improper heating.
Sometimes just raising the temperatures will help him get over his RI (Respiratory Infection) however in some cases they will need veterinarian care. If in a week of raised temperatures he doesn't get better make a vet appointment for proper diagnosis and medication.
Be sure this is what it is before you raise the temperatures. If you are unsure that is RI or not then only raise the Temperatures 5 degrees. It is not too hot for them nor will it be too cold.
